A superb Meissen cane of an aristocratic lady. The porcelain tau handle is 3” high and4 1/2” long. It features a beautiful smiling lady with her hair pulled back and tied with a black bow, as well as having a purple bow trailing at her neck. The body of the handle is fully hand-decorated in a lovely floral design along with raised gold scrolling. (An exact example of this piece is shown on page 179, picture #23, of Dike’s La Canne Objet D’Art in the Meissen chapter. She attributes the original form to Johann Gottlieb Ehder, noted 18th Century Meissen modeler). Originally collected as a handle, it is mounted on an antique shaft that has a 1/3” ringed gold collar, is made of dark rosewood, and has a 7/8” replaced brass ferrule. The overall length is 36 2/3” and the condition is very good. It was perhaps made in the first half of the 19th Century and it is an outstanding example of the kind. Estimate: $2500-$3500