North America, United States & Ireland, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A diamond willow cane and a shillelagh style blackthorn cane, both hand carved as sturdy walking sticks. The "diamond willow" cane has been a style carved for centuries by Native Americans - the diamond pattern being a naturally occurring phenomenon, due in part to a type of fungus that attacks the wood, which creates these dead pockets of tissue in the shape of diamonds, which is then enhanced by carving, polishing, and staining. The other cane has a knotty surface, likely made from blackthorn, the sturdy wood was used for the Irish weapon, the Shillelagh club. During the English occupation laws prevented the Irish ownership of weapons, and these walking sticks modeled after the Shillelagh were popularly carried for self-defense. The tips of both have iron caps and a nice patina throughout. Size of Shillelagh cane: 35" L x 1.25" W (88.9 cm x 3.2 cm) Size: 35" L x 1.25" W (88.9 cm x 3.2 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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#173205

Pressure fissures and cracks on diamond willow cane head and tip. Nice patina throughout. Shillelagh cane has stable pressure fissures and age and use expected surface wear throughout. Nice patina to wood and iron.