Automaton Ivory skull System, England, ca. 1890

Automaton Ivory skull System Walking stick, England, ca. 1890

The first bearer of this charming, Memento Mori (Remember that you are going to die), reveals a lot about his personality, undoubted, a person who lived optimistically and with good humour, seeing death as something very natural, a reason to live the present moment fully.

Moving objects fascinate children and adults from old times. During the 19th century also found their way into canes, it was a prime source of entertainment, being to catch the attention of a lady or even to entertain children.

This elephant ivory is wearing a splendid patina, it is 5 cm high x 4 cm to the side x 3,5 cm at its widest, depicting in fine detail a human skull with glass eyes. When a button on the back of the collar is engaged, it turns the eye sockets and lowers the jaw sticking out its red tongue. The mechanics work excellent, with no chips or cracks in the ivory.

It is on top of an ebony shaft with an 8 mm. wide silver collar, ends with a bimetal ferrule. Without chips or cracks in the ivory, the O.L is 89 cm. the condition is excellent.

According to the expert, this type of skull has an English provenance and corresponds very much to the retailed by BRIGG London. 

There is also a very similar model patented by Ernst Bolle in Berlin in 1883 see U. Klever Walkingsticks.

See similar examples by C. Dike, Cane Curiosa, on pages 116 - 119 

And the German patent by Ulrich Clever, Walkingsticks, fig. 39 page 60

We deliver this piece with a signed document issued by a certified appraiser, corroborating the ivory is older than 100 years and therefore before 1947.

Antique Walking Cane Collection Antiker Spazierstock Sammlung Antique Canne Collection Antiek Wandelstok Verzameling Antico Bastone Collezione Античный трость коллекции Baston Antiguo Coleccion