094 - A very special knobstick cane, consisting of a custom Ferrari gearknob and engraved silver collar mounted on a hand-rounded ebonised shank.
The customer contacted me with a request for a very special custom-made cane. He's getting married shortly, and wanted a suitable stick to go with his wedding outfit. It was to be something he would keep and cherish as a memento of the happy day.
Now, this bridegroom-to-be is in the automotive business, involved with the design of specialised gearboxes. Hence the desire for a really smart custom gear change knob to be incorporated into the design of the stick.
Paul Hill was most helpful and had a bit of extra machining done to provide a perfect match to the size of collar I needed to use. If you have the odd Ferrari or two in the garage and are wondering what you can do to make them look even better, then have a look at Hill Engineering's Web site here here. Better than a pair of furry dice any day!
On the right, the shank was rounded and tapered by hand from a nice piece of what I believe is Bubinga, an African hardwood. I gave this my special ebonised finish, which allows just a hint of the colour and grain of the wood to show through. I would expect the finish to fade slightly as the stick ages, revealing a little bit more of the colour underneath.
The collar is of Edinburgh hallmarked sterling silver. The city of Edinburgh has a special significance to the bride and groom, so this was a nice touch. Engraved on one side is the customer's family motto, and on the other is a Scottish thistle.
My best wishes to the soon-to-be-happy couple and may they have a long and happy life together.
Sold (a commissioned work)