A BELGIAN ART NOUVEAU 800 STANDARD SILVER VEILED FACE CANE Liege, dated 1902 The knob handle in the form of a veiled face, inscribed A Nicolas L'amour n'est pas seulement sentiment, il est un art aussi. Marguerite, Liege 1902' (To Nicolas Love is not only a sentiment, it is also an art. Marguerite, Liege, 1902), on a Macassar ebony shaft with a metal ferrule. height overall 35 1/2in (90.2cm); height of handle 4in (10.2cm); width 1 3/4in (4.5cm) Footnotes: The text on the back of the handle is from from Honoré de Balzac's 1834 novel The Quest of the Absolute. These words are spoken by a character named Marguerite. This haunting cane must remain a mystery, as we do not know who our Marguerite was, nor her Nicolas. Provenance Il Segno del Tempo, Milan; Collection of Eddi Van Auken, California, purchased from the above August 2017. Literature Van Auken, Eddi. Masterpieces: The Eddi Van Auken Collection of Antiques Walking Sticks and Canes. Silvia Editrice, Milan, 2025, pages 136-137, number 97. (illustrated) Condition reports are not provided in catalog descriptions. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is in good condition or free from damage and wear. We encourage you to request a condition report and/or additional photos prior to bidding on any lot. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing