88. Spectacular Ivory Polar Bear Cane-1886 Hallmarks-Ivory handle carved to depict a polar bear balancing on a ball. The large animal with short tail and powerful limbs is naturalistically rendered with a finely engraved surface, suggesting a thick and shaggy fur. It is characterized by four broad paws, a small head with long snout and round ears betraying acute senses of smell and hearing. The large handle aged well with a warm patina and comes with a silver collar struck with London hallmarks 1886 and a malacca shaft with an ivory ferrule. Rarely encountered in the widespread walking sticks repertoire, this cane epitomizes the English “Grand Style”. Remarkably it has never been broken or chipped and is great to use or to add to a displayed collection.-H. 4” x 3 ½”, O.L. 37 ½”-The motif of the bear came into fashion in Western Europe with the emerging Russian taste in the middle of the 19th century. In northern countries it replaces the lion as king of the beasts and represents power and warfare. Because it hibernates and then wakes up in the spring, the bear also symbolizes resurrection.