Political
Late Nineteenth Century Democratic & Republican Canes
c. 1890s, Pair of Democratic "Rooster" and Republican "Elephant" Handle Headed Canes, both Choice Fine.
This is a superb pair of political canes, each measuring 35" in length. The first bears a cast-metal Republican elephant head as a handle and sits atop a bamboo shaft finished in black lacquer. The head bears a few dents and cracks, small hole in the center of the trunk, as well as dents and scratches resulting in the loss of finish. The other cane bears a Democratic rooster's head as the handle and similarly measures 35" but has a straight hand-carved wood shaft. The head is quite well detailed with sharp relief. Handle bears some pitting, but overall is in excellent condition. (2 canes.)
Before the donkey became synonymous with the Democratic Party, the rooster served as it's unofficial symbol for many years, especially in the Midwest. The rooster first appeared around 1840 and still persists on some ballots in Indiana and Ohio. It coexisted with the Democratic donkey, which was first used by Andrew Jackson as a foil to his critics who had labeled him a "jackass". Similarly, the Republican party used an eagle as it's symbol for many years. It was Thomas Nast, in his vivid political cartoons in Harper's Weekly, that helped establish the modern use of the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey that continues to the present day.
Late Nineteenth Century Democratic & Republican Canes
c. 1890s, Pair of Democratic "Rooster" and Republican "Elephant" Handle Headed Canes, both Choice Fine.
This is a superb pair of political canes, each measuring 35" in length. The first bears a cast-metal Republican elephant head as a handle and sits atop a bamboo shaft finished in black lacquer. The head bears a few dents and cracks, small hole in the center of the trunk, as well as dents and scratches resulting in the loss of finish. The other cane bears a Democratic rooster's head as the handle and similarly measures 35" but has a straight hand-carved wood shaft. The head is quite well detailed with sharp relief. Handle bears some pitting, but overall is in excellent condition. (2 canes.)
Before the donkey became synonymous with the Democratic Party, the rooster served as it's unofficial symbol for many years, especially in the Midwest. The rooster first appeared around 1840 and still persists on some ballots in Indiana and Ohio. It coexisted with the Democratic donkey, which was first used by Andrew Jackson as a foil to his critics who had labeled him a "jackass". Similarly, the Republican party used an eagle as it's symbol for many years. It was Thomas Nast, in his vivid political cartoons in Harper's Weekly, that helped establish the modern use of the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey that continues to the present day.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 18th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
