Carved and Paint Decorated Maple Walking Cane
American, Early 19th Century
Maple
Length: 35 inches
Handle: 2 ^1/4 inches

This fine example of American folk art features a handle carved in the form of a clenched fist, and faux-umbrella below.

The form of a closed fist (or a fist holding an object) for a hand grip is ideal for a hand-grip and makes a humorous statement. As such, the varieties of surviving closed-fist canes are too many to identify, but the umbrella carving of this particular cane makes an individual statement.

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