A very fine Japanese staghorn cane with a snake and gourd. The staghorn handle is 4 1/2" high and 1 1/8" at its widest. It depicts in typical detailed Japanese manner, a garden patch of foliage with a textured snake within it. The snake has a tiny jet eye and is gripping a ripe gourd. There are traces of old green paint, worn from handling, on the leaves. There is 1/2" smooth silver collar on a macassar ebony shaft that ends with a 1" burnished brass ferrule. The overall length is 36 1/3" and the condition is very good. It is perhaps English, made with an imported handle, ca 1890. It is a great example of Japanese carving skill. Estimate: $650-$850.