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Important folk art cane, A.P. Dean,

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presentation cane carved by Allanson Porter Dean (1812-1888), carved boxwood(?), in original varnished surface, partly ebonized handle carved with ocelot and flying fish and signature "A.P. Dean", bittersweet carved handle wrapped with polychrome snake, inscribed "Bittersweet", top inscribed "Owego NY" and "Harmon S. Warner", "Born August 26, 1817, died Nov. 8, 1886", cane also inscribed "1881", carved into side of cane "Young Man, whenever you are about to lift the glass, think of those at home: Let the face of mother, of father, of wife of sister of loved one, come between your eyes and the rising cup", and verso inscribed "Secret societies undermine the happiness of the family, the dignity of the citizen, and the purity of the Church", bottom fitted with a brass ferrule, 34 x 5-1/2 in. Original varnished surface with some surface wear and finish losses, shrinkage crack, minor cracks in handle (possibly one small nail added?). Provenance: The cane descended in the family of Harmon S. Warner. The consignor is the great-great grandson of Richard Edward Patterson. Warner was the father of Patterson's second wife, Katherine Warner. Reserves: $12,000 Little is known of the life of A.P. Dean. Alanson Porter Dean was a family name and numerous men with that name appear in 19th century census records. It is thought that the carver of this cane was in the tanning and lumber business and died in 1888. The extraordinary quality of his carving places him among the most gifted carvers during the height of cane popularity in the late 19th century. Other examples of his work include an example presented to P.T. Barnum and one presented to James Francis (illustrated in George Meyer, [American Folk Art Canes], catalogue number 212). Meyer notes that "using only a jack knife [Dean] carved canes that he presented to men he admired including President Hayes and Garfield as well as Francis Murphy, a temperance movement leader and P.T. Barnum! He carved a number of canes…breathtaking in their union of precision and grace, moral and mythology… The theme of temperance is repeated in this important political cane. The anti-secret society message is also a reflection of the period and the 1881 date inscription may refer to a specific moment in the anti-Masonic movement. Harmon S. Warner, the man to whom the cane pays tribute, died five years after that date in 1886. The cane was presumably carved soon thereafter. The 1880 Federal census records Harmon S. Warner of Owego, New York, as a carpenter, age 62, living with four other family members including William Henry Warner, age 25, and a Lowell Warner, age 18. Perhaps this cane was presented to one of Harmon Warner's sons after his death.

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