C057 - Collector's item: a highly unusual bamboo rootknob walking stick/cane with gold-plated band. The most unusual thing being its square cross-section!
Approx. dimensions:
Overall length 33.75" / 857mm
Diameter of shaft 1/2" / 15mm,
Light weight, but good and strong.
The lumpy knob on the nose of the handle is the root-ball from which the bamboo culm grew. The maker has managed to bend the bamboo very tightly, producing a small, neat, yet very solid handle. The shank is embellished with a gold-plated (and of course, square) metal band. This is marked with the letters "H.P" together with the maker's mark "K&SL" and "G.P." (for gold-plated). The maker would be Kendal & Sons Ltd, who I believe were active during the early part of the 20th century.
The ferrule was missing from the tip of the stick when it came into my possession, and the end was worn and split as a result. This was a bit awkward, as simply trimming it down to fit a ferrule would require the removal of the bottom node (the lumpy bit), thus shortening the stick even further. In the end (and at the end, if it comes to that) I made and fitted a short extension piece of stag antler, and fitted a steel-tipped brass ferrule to this. Here we have a case where I would be happy to shorten the stick to suit a smaller customer. If we can get the length short enough to remove the bottom node altogether, then I could make a neater job of it; and thanks to the small handle and slim shank, the proportions would still look just fine.
The gold-plated band has a few dents and dings, but overall this stick is in nice condition and has a superb deep glossy patina to it. The small split which you will see just above the antler tip has been filled with epoxy resin and won't be causing any further problems.
A very unusual little stick. Smart but practical and very suitable for the smaller person needing a strong support.