Cane/Walking stick
Materials: Walnut
Construction: Carved one piece
Date: 19th century
Description: A woodlands cane likely Black Forest with seven integrated portraits, seven animals, an entwined serpent and the handle depicting a partially clothed figure of a woman holding a handle bar with her scant costume parts flowing abaft. Leaves, flowers and vines complete the composition. The handle bars the woman grasps are very much like the earliest two wheel Draisine, also called Laufmaschine ("running machine"), from around 1820. The Laufmaschine was invented by the German Baron, Karl von Drais, at Mannheim in 1817. Being the first means of transport to make use of the two-wheeler principle, the Laufmaschine is regarded as the archetype of the bicycle. The above Draisine was built with cherry tree wood and softwood. It is displayed at the Kurpfälzisches Museum in Heidelberg, GermanyMade pre- commercial period in the best style. Likely Swiss, 19th century
Provenance: MA. estate
Size: L. 35.5 x W. 4.5"
Weight: 1 pound, .5 ounces
Condition: Minor wear and minor age checking to the wood.Meta: Folk Art
History: "Black Forest" is a term used to describe the elaborate, realistic wood carvings that were thought to be made in the Black Forest region of Bavaria, Germany. In the 1980s, new research proved that the carvings were done in Switzerland, most by the Trauffer family. It is easy to identify pieces. Bears that play instruments, climb trees, hold benches or beg are part of the legs, seats and stands that make up the furniture. Each bear was carved from a linden or walnut tree trunk. Pieces were not signed. A similar type of carving that featured birds, branches and plants also was made in Switzerland. Clock cases were made to hold Swiss clock movements often marked with a company name. Collectors still call both types of carved pieces "Black Forest."