19th century wood pow wow doctor's cane made of a tree branch, tapers from bottom tip with a rubber cap, to the handle end which thickens to a twisting, spiraling 'burl' that juts out roughly perpendicular to the shaft. The handle tip has a shaped face fashioned with eyes drilled above a muzzle resembling a snake head.
Vestiges of black paint on top of what paint over minor portion of cane.
Described in auction catalog as a snake cane. Objects from this occult collection were collected during the 1950s-1970s from Lancaster, Berks and Lehigh Counties, mostly from the Kutztown area.
Provenance
None given.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 46
Storage Shelf
Shelf 3
Storage Container
Box 0382
Object Name
Cane
Length (cm)
91.44
Length (ft)
3
Length (in)
36
Condition
Good
Condition Date
1997-06-06
Condition Notes
Worn, but structurally sound. Black paint is mostly worn off and ribber tip at bottom has additional rubber piece nailed on end.
Cane made of maple owned by James Buchanan. Long, tapered with tip and 2-part handle of ivory. Handle grip is in the shape of a lily or trumpet flower. Lower section is elaborately carved w/ high-relief eagle on a background of leaves, stars and banner w/ "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Inscribed in black on side of handle in script is "James Buchanan / from E.C.L." Believed to be gift of Elizabeth Chapman Lawrence, friend of Buchanan and Harriet Lane.
Provenance
Descent from Buchanan to James B. Lane, grand nephew, then to donor's husband, grandson of J. B. Lane.
Cracks in handle and separation. Stains on wood. Ivory tip scarred.
Object ID
W.89.58
Notes
The cane was owned by James Buchanan and at his death given to James B. Lane, his grand nephew. It was passed down to the donors husband as grandson of James B. Lane.
Wooden walnut cane with bone handle, silver colored metal ferrule on top of shaft. 3.25 in long curved piece of bone tipped in a 1 in long tapered piece of wood. Bone is anchored to cane and join is covered by a tarnished metal band with a scalloped upper edge. Band is decorated with a duster of three upside down y-shapes marked to resemble rope. Section narrow; lengths of wooden cane as it narrows are: bottom tip .5 in, 10.75 in section, 9.75 in section. 8.75 in section, handle.
Tapered mahogany wooden cane with smooth dark finish. One and three quarter inch long golden brass cap/band at top of cane is engraved with a man's profile, President G. Cleveland, on top. 2.125 inch wide brass ferrule on bottom above .75 inch steel tip.
On side written longitudinally: Carried and presented to the L.C.H.S. by George W. Hensel, Jr. 1943.
Engraved horizontally: From Grover Cleveland to W.U. Hensel Easter Time 1893.
Engraving from Hensel to LCHS was a later engraving.
Wood walking stick or cane with silver tip and cap. Four panels with text alternate with four panels decorated with ornate leaves. 1.5 in metal band nailed on at the botton. One nail missing.
cap is engraved: "By the Union Fire Co. / No. 1 Lancaster PA / Presented to Rev. A. H. Shertz / Feb. 25th, 1865 "
Cane, wood turned in one piece with knob at top, copper colored metal ferrule at end. 1 in red metal band around the bottom tip. Wood at bottom. Lengthwise grain along the cane, narrowing neck before ball at top of cane. All a single piece of wood.
Wooden cane with metal tip, vine like pattern, accompanying tag reads, "Thornwood stick - silver inlay, formerly property of Walter Kieffer, grandfatther of Donald" Round branch with distinctive bark. Metal cylinder around lower end. Wooden peg exposed may indicate a missing piece at the tip. At 8.5 inches from teh top ar 5 parallel and wavy lines of wire flattened and attached diagonally, following the curvature of the wood.
Single piece of wood forms smooth 35 in cane with carved face whose hair becomes four long jointed appendages taht end in talons or claws gripping a head whose upward looking moustaches face's jaw is the tapered end of the curved handle. Lower tip is banded (.75 in W) and bottom is exposed wood. Pupils on cane face are tiny holes/punctures. On handle face, pupils are less deep with black in on them.
Letters carved into cane read KepKypa, indicating that object is from the Holy Land. Attached tag reads, "Made of wood from mount of olives in Holy Land, head of Christ and name, "Kieffer" carved by an armenian friend of Walter Kieffer (Grandfather of Donald K.)"
