WHAT'S A NOVELTY CANE?

Novelty canes have been around since the first cane was made. It was the rock-stuck-in-a-branch model, you know, the one they mistakenly called a "club", until someone used the forked branch on the other end to lean on when a leg was hurt.... oh, excuse me, that was a crutch .... but, you get the idea.

There's nothing more satisfying than finding something you love to look at, to touch ... and to collect one of every variety you can find until they fill every corner, every window sill, every bit of space in your place .... but I digress.

Well, for all you walking stick and cane aficionados, here are some out-of-the-ordinary canes. Unless it says differently, these canes are not meant for use as a mobility aid -- you'd probably break 'em, maybe hurt yourself. They are for display, for a prop, a part of a costume or party decoration, or just something you like to look at ..... strange, very strange indeed ....

WHO COLLECTS NOVELTY CANES?

Cane collectors abound. Some concentrate on a theme, like dogs or other animals, and some collect from a certain period, like the 18th century. Antique canes are jealously guarded, and rightly so! At an auction they can go for tens of thousands of dollars! Their handles could be made of precious metals, like 24 kt gold or sterling silver, or animal products like ivory and horn. Animal product handles are increasingly rare because of the plight of endangered species, and rightly so. New canes cannot be made from some materials, so all you can hope for is an estate sale, an auction or an antique shop find.  Think of these canes in particular as an investment!  They are only going to get increasingly rare!

The answer to the question is -- anyone at all!

WHEN WILL WE SEE NOVELTY CANES?

CANES FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE will occasionally have a genuine antique cane or two for sale. They will be auctioned after being throughly researched. Since I like to research, let me make an offer to all you collectors out there -- I would be very glad to keep my internet-eyes open for your style of collectible cane. No finder's fee, and you don't have to buy them from me, since they probably won't be in my possession anyway! No, this is just from one cane collector to another.

Wouldn't you tell me if you found a "cat" theme collectible cane? (That's my first feeble attempt at accruing a collection.) Well, I'd do the same for you -- a kind of informal information web, as it were. Send me an email with all the particulars, and I will email you back when and if I find anything that looks close. If I can, I'll send pictures!

Email: VALERY@CANESGALORE.COM and put "Novelty Cane Request" in the subject line -- that way I'll save it!  No promises, just an earnest effort. And share some stories with us about your best find -- I'll post it on a special page for others to read!

CHEERS, VALERY