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Gold mounted hardstone dress cane, circa 1880, snakewood shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Kimball Sterling invites crossovers to Feb. 16 cane auction

Gold mounted hardstone dress cane, circa 1880, snakewood shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Gold mounted hardstone dress cane, circa 1880, snakewood shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – LiveAuctioneers and Kimball M. Sterling Inc. team up again for a presentation of 249 lots of antique canes and walking sticks for the Winter Cane Auction on Saturday, Feb. 16, beginning at 11 a.m. EST.

Sterling is the largest canes auction house in the world presenting over six auctions per year live on the Internet and in various locations including Tennessee and Las Vegas. New Orleans is coming soon.

This auction will have canes from a European collection including many Tiffany silver canes, carved ivory erotic and hardstone “objects of virtue.” The erotic ivories consist of a group of some interesting nudes from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. A collection of sword canes is also included in this consignment. A full tortoise cane from the Andrew K. “AK” Forthmann, the King of California soap, estate is a prime example of a shell presentation with his monogram appearing in gold. There are 30 canes from this estate including full whalebone and defensive canes. There will be four other collections and consignments in this auction from three countries.

Nautical canes are also strong in this auction including full whalebone shafts and carved tooth handles. All nautical canes presented in this auction are over 125 years old. Kimball M. Sterling does not accept modern whale canes for consignment.

Sterling advises collectors to take some time to look at the catalog. He says antique canes have many crossover categories for other fields of collecting including dogs, horses, historical, fraternal and much more. Many canes represent occupations from dentist to undertakers.

Offered in this auction is a Hemès Cannes et Pommeaux scarf from the 1980s. Side selections other than canes also include cane stands and cases.

The auction will be held in-house and live on liveauctioneers.com. Additional information and printed full-color catalogs are available from by calling the Winter Cane Auction at 423-773-4073.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.


ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE


Gold mounted hardstone dress cane, circa 1880, snakewood shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Gold mounted hardstone dress cane, circa 1880, snakewood shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Erotic nude cane, circa 1890, large ivory seated Venus handle on a malacca shaft with a brass ferrule and a richly chased and gilt collar with engraved initials. Estimate: $3,000-$4,000. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Erotic nude cane, circa 1890, large ivory seated Venus handle on a malacca shaft with a brass ferrule and a richly chased and gilt collar with engraved initials. Estimate: $3,000-$4,000. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Nautical whalebone cane, circa 1870, carved whale’s tooth for a handle with an inlaid tortoise disc atop, ribbed and other architectural carvings on the shaft. Estimate: $1,400-$1,600. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Nautical whalebone cane, circa 1870, carved whale’s tooth for a handle with an inlaid tortoise disc atop, ribbed and other architectural carvings on the shaft. Estimate: $1,400-$1,600. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Asian ivory cane, circa 1890, upscale carving of a mountain of rats with beaded eyes, a hallmarked silver Brig, London collar, thick snakewood shaft and a metal ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,400. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Asian ivory cane, circa 1890, upscale carving of a mountain of rats with beaded eyes, a hallmarked silver Brig, London collar, thick snakewood shaft and a metal ferrule. Estimate: $1,000-$1,400. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Tiffany sterling dress cane, dated 1891, removable sterling handle that has ‘Virginia Christmas 1891’ cast into the handle, thick malacca shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Tiffany sterling dress cane, dated 1891, removable sterling handle that has ‘Virginia Christmas 1891’ cast into the handle, thick malacca shaft and a horn ferrule. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Hemès Cannes et Pommeaux scarf, 100 percent silk, canes motif, like new, 1980s. Estimate: $400-$600. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.

Hemès Cannes et Pommeaux scarf, 100 percent silk, canes motif, like new, 1980s. Estimate: $400-$600. Kimball M. Sterling Inc. image.