Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - May 4, 1986
By Deborah Curtis
Vigo County Historical Society

The walking stick has place in history

The walking stick or "cane" has long held a place in man's history, its roots leading back to the "big stick" wielded by prehistoric man as a weapon of both self-defense and aggression.

Civilized man carried on the tradition. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks represented their rulers and gods carrying staffs which symbolized authority. These staffs became the scepters of kings during the Middle Ages.

The staff's role as an aid to travel was exemplified in the hands of pilgrims and shepherds. These wooden staffs usually were heavy sticks about 5 feet long. Very often the tops of the sticks held secret compartments for carrying valuables or for smuggling contraband. Records show that silkworm eggs were smuggled into Europe via a hollow staff. The first tulip bulb introduced into Holland also was reported to have made a similar entrance.

The walking stick as an accessory to dress saw its origins in the 11th century in what is now France. Women there carried slender sticks made of apple wood.

It was not until the end of the 15th century, however, that the walking stick was adopted as a general accessory to dress, this time as a masculine rather than feminine fashion.

The distinction between walking sticks and canes is drawn by materials. Sticks were made of ivory, whalebone, ebony and various valuable woods. Canes were made of malacca (rattan), bamboo and other types of sturdy reed plants.

Both types were highly ornamental, usually mounted in silver and sometimes studded with precious stones. The heads or knobs were made of stone, porcelain, silver, ivory or amber. Opaque amber was the most fashionable material.

During the late 17th century, walking sticks usually were trimmed with ribbons at the handle. A loop of ribbon was slipped over the wrist for ease in carrying.

By this time the length of walking sticks had shorted to about 3 feet. Longer canes with a profusion of ribbons generally were carried only by fops and dandies.

Up until the middle of the 18th century, walking sticks were carried at the same time as the essential sword. Gradually, however, the sticks began to replace swords as the main symbol of gentility.

Along with this fashion of carrying sticks came the attendant rules of etiquette. It was considered an extreme violation of manners to carry a walking stick under one's arm, to brandish it in the air, to drag it on the ground or to lean on it while standing. A 1702 issue of the Tatler reported that it was necessary for London gentlemen to procure licenses for the privilege of carrying canes, and to abide by certain rules or risk loss of that privilege.

Just as the walking stick had replaced the sword as an accessory to dress in the 19th century, the umbrella gradually replaced the walking stick in the beginning of the 20th century. The walking stick now appears only on very formal occasions, usually as an accessory to top hat and tails.

The historical Museum of the Wabash Valley has an interesting exhibit of 18th and 19th century walking sticks and canes made of wood, bone and bamboo, and featuring a variety of decorative handles. They were donated to the museum by various families over the years.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.