A great English cane of a man and a snake, signed and dated 1813. Fashioned from a single piece of thick hardwood, perhaps chestnut, it has a handle that is 2" high and 2" at its thickest. It depicts a nicely fashioned head of a man wearing a closely fitting cap, who features a wry smile. Carved on the shaft is a thick, encircling, scaly snake tapering down for the shaft's entire length. Inscribed in script beside the snake is: "Samuel Sampson. Martlesham, Suffolk, February 1, 1813". (Per Wikipedia, Martlesham is a village in Suffolk, England about two miles Southwest of Woodbridge.) The piece ends with a 1/3" handmade burnished brass ferrule. The overall length is 34 1/4" and the condition is very good. It is a very fine English Folk Art example that is signed and dated by the owner/maker. Estimate: $900-$1300.