With some legs, such as silver, having a hallmark enables me to wax lyrical. But some legs do not readily lend themselves to a lot of information – so I thought I would see what I could tell you for 2 or 3 of the difficult ones.
When I buy a
leg for my collection I try and get as much information as I can from the
seller. At quality fairs such as the NEC the sellers are professionals on
antiques and generally give very reliable and accurate information. But at lesser fairs, shops, or car boots for
example I can find my self telling stallholders more than they know.
Like the
experience many years ago in Newark in an antique shop, where I saw a 2-piece
item made of stone about 2/3 feet high; one piece was a fat pillar and on top
was a circular piece of stone. The label stated it was a Saddle Stone, whereas
the correct title was a Staddle Stone.
These
stones originated in medieval times and were made as the corners to support
grain stores. The word staddle, said to derive from Old English 'stathol',
meaning a foundation, comprised a tapering section of stone with a
separate overhanging top, looking much like a mushroom and which is why they
were sometimes called Mushroom Stones.
Perhaps the dealers’ label Saddle stone did look like
and was not completely wide of the mark!!
Another
encountered confusion area can be Pipe Tampers, where some brass items do look
like wax seals.
This week let’s start with one of the legs in my collection that go back the furthest…as far as I know!!. This is another Pipe Tamper which I bought at a Stafford fair 3 years ago and said to date from c1820 was therefore 200 years old. I had bought previously from the stallholders and knew that they were very thorough in researching the items they sold.
This 2.5
inch tamper dates to c1850. The dealer told me that she has done a lot of
reading on carving, scrimshaw work and engraving, particularly by Prisoners of
War (POW). Much POW work was on bone, and bone was readily available in the
remains of meals. Her findings were that naval POWs were more skilled in
creating Pipe Tampers and she opined the view that this one was made by a
sailor.
You can
see that what looks like carved socks with a garter bow, and outlines of a lady’s
shoe. The carving is symmetrical, so it is not clear whether it is a left or
right foot and the tamping end is hatched, confirming it is a Tamper. (Hatched
ends will always be Tampers, but unhatched might be a wax seal or a
tamper.) A very nice nineteenth century
bone POW Pipe Tamper.
Right
up to 2019 I was continuously searching for a walking stick with a handle in
the shape of a leg. I was outbid for two such canes at a Bamfords Auction and
it was 2019 before I finally found and bought
my first Walking Stick. This one…
Let me start with explaining the difference between the two types of walking support - a Walking Cane or a Walking Stick. The difference surprisingly has medical implications.
Walking Canes are canes used on a regular basis and as a
support for a person with walking difficulties. We have a tendency to call both of these
items walking Sticks, but for accurate identification, this is wrong.
Walking Sticks are considered to be occasional aids, often
used by walkers and hikers (or even in pairs for the noisy activity of Nordic
Walking!!), as a safety aid on difficult terrain where stumbling could occur. i.e.,
On a cliff top path, or up and down countryside steps.
The sturdiness of the stick is as
important for both uses but Walking Canes these days are more likely to have a rubber
non-slip 4-point ferrule to aid stability. When observing a cane user it will
be noticed that Walking Canes are more often held in the hand at the side of
the body. This will be to relieve pain on whichever side the user is
discomforted. Walking Sticks are usually held in front like something to lean
on as one moves forward. Some canes
are purely carried as a fashion accessory as I did at my daughter’s wedding!!
The history of walking sticks is fascinating and in
the 1600’s they were used as weapons, and
in future years the design progressively becoming more ornate. In the 1700’s
stick carriers had to be licenced. If Sticks were held under the arm, the user
could have to forfeit their licence!
This is my first Walking Stick acquired
at a large antique fair in Newark, and from a dealer who I had patronised
before. He knew that I was looking for a Stick with a leg shaped handle, so he
brought the one he had in case I visited the fair…. which I did. The handle is
leg shaped and made of bronze, and careful examination reveals the leg has a
clearly defined heel, and also a bow on the right on what would be the ankle.
With that pattern of engraving this is a right leg/foot. The ferrule is well worn. Add to this that the length is only 2ft 6in
this is clearly a lady’s Walking Stick.
It is ironic that for many years I had
been looking for a cane or stick, and in 2019 I buy four!! The other three I will cover in due course. Next I am hoping to find a Walking Stick Sword. I
have seen them at the NEC but not with a leg handle…yet!
The third item is a needle case made of Rosewood. Dated in the early 19th century, the needle case is 4.5 inches and in 2 parts. This one I bought at the NEC in 2019.
The case is to hold sewing needles and
would be kept in an antique sewing basket. The two parts fit neatly together,
and at the top of the leg, and around the shoe, there are dots lightly punched
to replicate and accentuate the boot edges. In Treen whilst indents will be punched,
some markings are made by burning using a very hot pointed instrument like a
needle.
There you have three legs which are a
bit different and there is still plenty of variety yet to come!
The Microtibialist
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