36. Gold Topped Black Coral Cane-Ca. 1880-Singular organic material cane with an 18 karat yellow gold Milord knob of an octagonal configuration on a shaft fashioned of eight matching and straight Black Coral segments. Among the rarest of rare and probably most favored of all material canes, this specimen cane ticks all the boxes for walking sticks connoisseurs with a taste for the unique. It survived in superb condition with the entire gentle and dark radiance of black coral and still retains its initial metal ferrule. A tiny hallmark on the knob’s collar hints to a Viennese provenance. Black coral grows slowly in deep waters, and many species have long life spans. One specimen was reported by scientists to be more than 4,200 years old with a growth rate of only five micrometers per year. -2 ½” x 1 ½”, O.L. 35 ¾”-Black corals (Antipatharia) are a group of deep water, tree-like corals related to sea anemones. They grow slowly in deep waters, and many species have long life spans. One specimen was reported by scientists to be more than 4,200 years old with a growth rate of only five micro-meters per year. Though black coral’s living tissue is brilliantly colored, it takes its name from the distinctive black or dark brown color of its skeleton. The black skeleton forms irregularly branching, tree-like structures. It grows in a sympodial manner. Rather than the first stem growing continuously upwards with branches arising from it, the first stem will stop growing after a certain time, and a new branch will grow out from the side. This too will eventually terminate growth, and a side branch will continue to grow, and so on. The skeleton is covered with polyps, the soft bodied, colorful part of the coral. Also unique to black coral are the tiny spines that cover the surface of the skeleton, the origin of the nickname little thorn coral.