Ivory floral ball cane. The elephant ivory ball is 1 1/2′ in diameter. It is wonderfully relief-carved with a detailed floral sprig at the top and a thick band of flowers and leaves on the sides. There is a 1/2″ ringed silver collar on a marvelous, heavy and thick snake wood shaft that is nicely figured and terminates with a 1/2″ nickel ferrule, worn at the tip from usage. (Snake wood is acknowledged as the very finest wood for formal canes and was so dear in the 19th Century that it was sold by the inch.) The overall length is 35 1/3″ and the condition is very good. It is perhaps Continental, ca 1885.
