Featured Ivory-Topped Antique Walking Stick

How's this, eh?

Bought it from the local flea-market today. Has a nice, ivory handle on the top. You may notice that there's no ferrule - an acquaintance at the market (silversmith) said he could do a quick job on that and fix it for me, so I decided - since the offer was made, I might as well. It won't cost much, and I can pick it up in a couple of days! Will post more photos when I can.

The stick is about 32, 33 inches long. Just the right length, for itty-bitty-little me! Can't wait to get it fixed!

 

it appears never to have had a ferrule?

 

Very cool find, Shangas!

 

Yes it did, once upon a time...a long time in the past. Obviously, it fell off at some point, and I was trying to think of how to repair it. Then, my friend offered to have one made for me, custom-sized, in sterling silver - him being a jeweler, it was only to be expected. So I said yes!

He said it'd be a one-day job, so I'm trying to arrange to meet him later in the week (Wednesday or Thursday) to collect it.

 

Sent the silversmith a text-message. Says he can't meet me as I hoped he could, so it'll be this time next week before I can post some extra photos of it.

 

Love the cane,now about that ring on your thumb ! Im mad for a funky ring.

 

LOL!! Not my ring, sorry. It's the ring of my friend who's doing the repairs. He held it out so I could photograph it before he took it back to his workshop to fix it. Can't wait to get this back!

 

Don't laugh, I found this antler with sterling walking stick missing it's bottom also. I put a sterling thimble on it.

 

That was going to be my plan, too. But then my compadre offered his services for a nominal fee. So I figured I might as well have it done professionally! That said - I have seen at least two examples (three now, including that one above) where walking-sticks were repaired, simply by jamming and gluing silver thimbles onto them! I must say, it's a very elegant solution

If you don't mind my asking - in what way - if any - is the thimble attached to the base of the stick?

 

the sterling is a very nice touch on the bottom and around the collar too..

 

Just out of curiosity - is there anything that anybody might recommend, to rub or brush or polish onto the stick, to protect the wood? Varnish or lacquer of some variety? Beeswax?

 

You could go for this look.

 

I prefer tung oil easy to use and reapply when necessary,not sure what you have in your country....... https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&channel=tus&q=tung+oil

 

Honestly I don't remember exactly as it's been awhile however I've never considered it finished. It's one of those projects to return to.

I think I put some sort of filler, probably a wood epoxy, in the thimble and stuck it on. I have set aside some tiny nails pulled from a sterling bowl base for possible use. I always thought it should have a solid bit on the very end and imagined a dense rubber disc but haven't looked for anything for it in ages.

I think I paid $2 for the stick.

 

As promised:

MORE STICK!


Here's the new silver ferrule, made out of old, scrap silver, and a nice little felt base, which I can replace, if I ever need to...

 

That's lovely!

 

It's a simple but elegant solution