*Continental, c.1900, Walking Stick with Owl Handle*
A highly unusual and characterful walking stick, the handle modelled as an owl formed from pine cone scales and seed husk, inset with striking red glass eyes and fitted with a Bakelite beak. The handle is mounted on a bespoke silver-plated collar above an ebonised hardwood shaft, terminating in a blonde cow horn ferrule. Length: 90cm. One ear broken, otherwise good original condition.
Historical Note: Walking sticks of this type were popular in the late 19th to early 20th century, reflecting the European taste for naturalistic and whimsical designs. Owls, long associated with wisdom and night guardianship, were a favoured subject in Continental folk art and novelty walking sticks. The use of natural materials such as pine cone husk for the carving adds a rustic charm, while the glass and Bakelite details suggest a turn-of-the-century manufacture when early plastics were becoming fashionable.
Condition Report: Handle with age-related wear and losses; one ear broken. The eyes and beak remain intact and vibrant. Silver plate mount with minor tarnish. Shaft retains a good polished finish with light surface marks. Cow horn ferrule with age wear and minor chips. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
