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Object Timeline

1949

  • We acquired this object.

2014

2015

2025

  • You found it!

Spherical Cane Handle Handle, 19th century

This is a handle. It is dated 19th century and we acquired it in 1949. Its medium is wood, silver. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

De Forest and others collected bidri ware for the Western market, where stylish cane handles were popular. Bidri, a technique exclusive to Bidar, India, involved the inlaying of intricate silver into a blackened zinc alloy. In these cane handles, dark wood replaces the alloy for a similar appearance.

This object was donated by Anonymous. It is credited Gift of Anonymous Donor.

  • Flag Cane
  • H x diam.: 87.9 x 3.9 cm (34 5/8 x 1 9/16 in.).
  • Gift of John B. Scholz in memory of Walter Scholz.
  • 1987-97-11-a,b

Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Vase (Iran)
  • enameled glass.
  • Gift of Rodman Wanamaker.
  • 1919-24-89
  •
  • Famous Actresses Cane
  • carved and polychromed wood, silver, steel.
  • Gift of John B. Scholz in memory of Walter Scholz.
  • 1987-97-12

Its dimensions are

H x diam.: 4 × 4 cm (1 9/16 × 1 9/16 in.)

It has the following markings

Unmarked

Cite this object as

Spherical Cane Handle Handle, 19th century; possibly India; wood, silver; H x diam.: 4 × 4 cm (1 9/16 × 1 9/16 in.); Gift of Anonymous Donor; 1949-151-7

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Passion for the Exotic: Lockwood de Forest, Frederic Church.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18613233/ |title=Spherical Cane Handle Handle, 19th century |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>