The great silver tau relic cane of Caleb S. Ridgway. The sterling handle measures 4 1/2" long and 1 3/4" high. It is elaborately decorated in a floral motif and there are fancy cartouches on each side. One cartouche is inscribed: "Columbian Year 1892". The other: "Grew on Ridgway Park, cut in 1892", referring to the light brown birch relic shaft of the cane, that ends with a 1 1/2" bi-metal ferrule. The end of the tau handle is inscribed: "Caleb S. Ridgway". The overall length is 36" and the condition is pristine. It was in storage since it was made and it was never used. (Caleb S. Ridgway was the youngest son of Jacob Ridgway, patriarch of a very important Philadelphia family. The father was born in 1786 and died in 1848. He amassed a fortune in the mercantile and land business and was called the "Merchant Prince" of Philadelphia. The huge Ridgway Library on South Broad Street in Philadelphia was his gift to the City. Ridgway Park was named after his family and was located on Smith Island in the Delaware River, adjacent to Philadelphia. Smith Island was dredged away in 1894 by the Federal Government for navigational purposes in the Delaware.) It is a beautiful example from one of Philadelphia's very important families. It is part of the collection of Dr. Michael Roth who purchased it at a Tradewinds auction in 1999. Estimate: $1000-$1500.