The Walking Stick with a Secret

The walking stick with a secret

Picture Number Catalog

109 Gadget cane for small animal traders Shaft: wood, brown Round handle: bone with bronze medallion, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1850 Length: 94.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the bronze medallion on the bone handle, you can pull out a measuring stick made of baleen from it. It is scaled in the English length unit of inch . A brass measuring stick can also be folded out from this measuring cane. For example, the shoulder height of dogs could be measured. The original collection number 12 by Niklaus Stoecklin is affixed to the shaft. This gadget cane comes from the collection of the famous Basel painter Niklaus Stoecklin.

Baleens Baleens are the horn plates hanging down from the upper jaw of a baleen whale instead of teeth. With the help of the mostly finely feathered baleen, whales filter plankton such as krill from seawater. Under the name of whalebone , baleens were used to give corsets their form until the early 20th century.

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110 Horse measuring cane Shaft: bamboo Handle: boxwood (wood), unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel, stamped Nickel Silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass plate with short iron tip Manufacturer: Swaine Adeney, London (England) Around 1920, England Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the handle, the inner measuring rod can be pulled out. The bamboo measuring stick bears the full inscription of Swaine and Adenay, a renowned specialist shop for riding implements, whips or walking canes. The company still sells very exclusive riding equipment today. The measurements on the scale are given in feet and in Horse Height. A measure still common in the horse trade today (only in England). 10 HH corresponds to 101.6 cm, in other words, based on the rule of thumb times 10 plus 2%. It is always measured at the height of the withers. The definition of pony is tricky which is definitely supposed to be under 148 cm (14.2 HH). Otherwise it goes into the more heavy class of horses. Often the horseshoes were removed and the hooves cut to the maximum. Shaving is also a possible measure. Horse measuring sticks are very popular and widespread.

Swaine Adeney, London In 1750, John Ross founded a whip-making business at 238 Piccadilly, London W1. James Swaine bought this company in 1798, after having been foreman of a successful whip manufacturer in Holborn for several years. A royal appointment from His Majesty King George III and his sons, the Prince of Wales and the Dukes of York, Clarence, Kent, Cumberland and Cambridge, followed quickly, and Swaine Adeney’s reputation for quality and excellence was established. The royal appointments were renewed during the reigns of His Majesty George IV and His Majesty William IV. In 1835, James Swaine moved his business to larger premises at 185 Piccadilly. Business continued to flourish and in 1845 Edward Swaine entered into a partnership with his nephew. The new name was then Swaine Adeney. Many things are still the same today in many respects. The same craftsmanship is used for the hand molding of the fine leather goods: tools, seams and engravings for each piece in the old tradition. Swaine Adeney’s workshops in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk are (unfortunately) one of the last workshops in the United Kingdom to produce fine leather in this way. Customers can send their favorite pieces for repair, no matter how old they are. In 1851, Swaine Adeney decided to show its fine products to the world at the London exhibition in the newly built Crystal Palace. The exhibition was the largest the world had ever seen. Swaine Adeney won several prizes at the London exhibition, which prompted the company to show its fine wares at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. Swaine Adeney’s reputation as the best leather goods manufacturer now grew worldwide. Thomas Brigg and Son’s was founded in 1836 at 23 St. James’s Street, just a stone’s throw from Swaine Adeney Brigg’s present location. The company specialized in the production of the finest umbrellas, walking canes and hunting bags. During the Second World War, Brigg & Sons lost its Paris business when France was occupied. Back home in London, help was available in the

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form of Swaine Adeney. The two companies merged mid-war in February 1943 and formed Swaine Adeney Brigg & Sons Limited. The company became famous for the supply of equestrian articles, which are still produced today.

111 Horse measuring cane Shaft: bamboo, sanded Round hook handle: bamboo, sanded Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel sheet 2004 Lender: private collection from the region

A square measuring bar can be pulled out from the upper part of the handle with a transverse end piece for support on the horse's shoulder. So that the measurement is exactly right-angled, a small spirit level is also installed. Ponies from 100 cm shoulder height and horses up to 180 cm can be measured. As with the historical model, HH Horse Height is also indicated in addition to cm. Very practical and widely used tool for measuring the horse height. This is very important if horses are to be a good match for a carriage. This cane is also used to decide whether it is a pony or a horse. The measuring stick is very important, because big ponies are expensive, but small horses are cheap.

112 Measuring cane with wooden scales Shaft, square: wooden Round handle, square: horn, light-colored Ferrule, square (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1910 Length: 87.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Measuring gadget cane with two wooden fold-out scales graduated in centimeters, which together make up one meter.

113 Gadget cane with measuring stick Shaft: wood with measuring stick, four-part, hinged Handle: horn, dark brown bent in Scottish shepherd style Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated, rectangular, removable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated, removable Around 1870, probably Germany Length: 90.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can remove the handle and with the snap fastener, the collar and ferrule as well. Then a wooden measuring stick is released. It can be unfolded to a length of three meters. Graduation in centimeters with German labeling.

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114 Levelling gadget cane Shaft, square: ebony Round handle, square: ivory Ferrule, square (lower end of the cane): ivory Around 1910 Length: 89.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If the cane is placed on its right side, two large graduated visors and two small visors can be opened on the left side, revealing a spirit level in between. The top visor with three peepholes can also be pulled out and shows a graduated scale of 40 to 75 units. The opposite lowermost visor shows two graduated scales of 0 –40 and 30 –70 units. In addition to these various scales, a scale of light wood is inserted between the two fold-out visors on the front, with the units 1.5 to 100 and a centimeter scale of 1–15 cm. Such a levelling cane could be used as a measuring instrument, with which height differences could be measured and height horizons established. It was used to determine routes, for railways, roads and paths in the mountains, for levelling and height measurement for engineers, foresters, architects and surveyors.

115 Gadget cane with measuring tape Shaft: wood Handle: Leather, drum with measuring tape Collar (transition from handle to shaft): probably metal Probably beginning of 20th century Length: 92.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle contains a drum with a textile tape measure. It can be pulled out and with the push of a button it is rewound and retracted.

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116 Gadget cane as advertising gift Shaft: wooden Handle: brass with tape measure Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Manufacturer: John Rabone & Sons, Birmingham (England) Around 1890, England Length: 90.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A metal measuring tape is integrated in the handle. It can be pulled out with a tab. By pressing the round button on the handle, the tape is retracted. The measuring tape was used as a distance measuring tape during the Bowl game. You could measure the distance between the game balls with this tape. The handle had an engraved image of an English gentleman with red west, white trousers, riding boots, top hat and cane. Walker: BORN 1820 STILL GOING STRONG. This is the advertising figure and logo of the whisky producer Johnnie Walker. They wanted to express that there is no contradiction between drinking whisky and walking briskly with a cane in nature. This cane was distributed by whisky producer Johnnie Walker as a promotional gift to his customers. The manufacturer is engraved on the side of the handle: JOHN RABONE & SONS BRIMINGHAM ENGLAND.

John Rabone & Sons Birmingham, England Around 1780, Michael Rabone ran a shop in Snow Hill 8, Sheffield, England, which manufactured measuring controllers or measuring tapes. The shop was continued by John Rabone and his grandson Eric Rabone. The company operated under the name John Rabone & Sons from 1784 to 1953. The headquarters were located in Birmingham, England.

Johnnie Walker After the death of his father in 1819, John Walker and his mother sold the family farm near Kilmarnock and used the proceeds to open a general store in the village. After a while the assortment of the shop was extended to whisky. John experimented with blending methods, which were used for tea at the time, on whisky. The whisky business was doing well and after destruction by a flood in 1852, the company was rebuilt. John Walker died in 1857. With the death of his father Alexander Walker took over the business and the task of whisky blending. The phylloxera plague, which destroyed almost the entire crop of French vines between 1858 and 1863, benefited the Walkers as well as the entire Scotch whisky production during this period. Cognac, which had been drunk a lot until then, but also wine and brandy, became considerably more expensive due to this plague. In 1860 a new law was passed which for the first time made it possible to use grain whiskies for blending in addition to malt whiskies. The new flavors helped to expand sales. Over the years, branches were opened, the first in London in 1880. Others followed in 1880 in Sydney, South Africa, and in Birmingham in 1897. When Alexander Walker died in 1889, his sons George Paterson Walker and Alexander Walker II took over its management together. In 1925 the Distillers Company Ltd (D.C.L.), founded in 1877, merged with John Walker & Sons. In 1987 D.C.L. and Arthur

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Bell & Sons merged to form United Distillers. Together with the International Distillers & Vintners, these became United Distillers & Vintners (UDV) after the merger of the Guinness and GrandMet groups in 1997. In 2002 UDV was completely transferred to the Diageo group. In 2012, Johnnie Walker sold over 170 million liters of whisky.

117 Gadget cane for cloth merchants Shaft: wood, black lacquered Handle: silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): gold, engraved Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1805, probably England Length: 93.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the silver handle and remove a wooden measuring rod. The measuring rod is graduated with 36 inches and 1 inch units (1 inch = 2.54 cm). The silver handle bears an English engraving: Birmingham 1805 .

Cloth trade Basel: E.E. Zunft zum Schlüssel (E.E. Guild to the Key) The E.E. Zunft zum Schlüssel was originally an association of Basel-based merchants, especially those who were active in the profitable cloth trade in the High Middle Ages. Its roots probably lie in a merchant guild of the late Roman period. Since the Reformation of 1529, it has been considered the first guild in terms of rank. From the 17th century onwards, the circle of professionals who belonged to it expanded, so that the bearers of Basel’s economic development, such as ribbon manufacturers and the founders and promoters of the chemical industry, belonged to it as well.

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118 Coffin maker’s gadget cane Shaft: bamboo Handle: buffalo horn, black Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel with floral decoration Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel and iron tip Around 1880, probably France Length: 89.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The black horn handle can be pulled out of the bamboo shaft. The body length of the deceased could be discreetly measured with the brass scale. It was extendable to a total length of 158 cm. The units of the scale are marked in 10 cm steps. French patent with DEPOSE engraved on the shaft.

Coffin maker Coffin makers are carpenters who are mainly responsible for the production of wooden coffins. Until well into the second half of the last century the coffin maker had to measure the deceased in order to be able to manufacture the coffin. Since the dead used to be laid out at home, the coffin maker had to measure the body at their home as well. This without disturbing or irritating the mourners.

119 Compass gadget cane for distance measurements and circle marking Shaft: wood, blackened Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1880 Length: 93.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Shaft made of blackened wood, can be folded out and includes removable brass collar and ferrule. This is a compass gadget cane for distance measurements and circle marking.

120 Drill cane Shaft: wood, can be folded out into two legs with two fixing screws and inside fold-out graduated metal bracket with the units 15, 18, 27, 30, 33 and 36 Two ferrules (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip About 1889 Length: 93.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By loosening the lower fixing screw, the shaft can be folded out like a pair of compasses into two isosceles halves. With the upper fixing screw, the fold-out graduated scale can be fixed so that the two ends of the leg provide a fixed measurement. Such canes were used by English officers to determine the stride length during drilling. This made it possible to run different formations precisely.

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121 Elegant gadget cane with striking handle and pedometer Shaft: rosewood, dark Ball handle: metal, blackened and faceted Collar (transition handle to shaft): gold, engraved Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel and iron tip Around 1900, probably France Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The massive ball handle can also be used as a striking weapon. It also shows corresponding traces. The attached, detachable pedometer suggests an athletic person who wanted to keep track of his steps and distances. The metal pedometer has a gold-plated bracket and the labeled with DEPOSE H. inside. The weight of the cane could be used to train the arm muscles. The gold collar bears the monogram EL.

Pedometer A pedometer or step counter is a small mechanical or electronic device for counting steps that the wearer attaches to a belt or waistband. For animals, a pedometer is usually attached to the legs. The Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet is considered the inventor of the mechanical pedometer. He first built his device in 1780. They had rectangular cases and usually had four dials on the cover, which made it possible to count up to 10,000 steps.

122 Gadget cane with Otis King’s slide rule Shaft: Malacca (wood), blond Handle, cylindrical: brass, nickel-plated, partly painted black Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel with floral decoration Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, light-colored About 1925, probably England Length: 86.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Pulling up the black handle part reveals the scales of the Otis King’s Pocket Calculator . To calculate the four basic operations, the black colored part is moved back and forth on the scales.

Otis King’s Pocket Calculator Otis Carter Formby King (1876 –1944) was a grocer and engineer in London who invented and produced a cylindrical slide rule with spiral scales. Initially mainly for business use. The product was called Otis King’s patent calculator and was manufactured and sold by Carbic Ltd. in London from about 1922 to about 1972. Otis King’s British Patent 183.723, patented 1922 U. S. Patent 1.645.009, patented 1927

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123 Gadget cane with spring balance Shaft: brass tube with iron retaining bracket Handle: horn (deer), angled Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): bronze with iron tip Manufacturer: George Salter & Co., England Around 1880, England Length: 94.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the deer horn handle, an iron bracket can be folded up. The tension spring scale, which can be scaled with the rotating collar, can be suspended from it. By unscrewing the lower brass tube, an iron hook with copper chains and an iron triangle frame for weighing fish and other marine animals is released, which is embedded in the tension spring balance. Manufacturer according to hallmark: SALTER MADE IN ENGLAND with knotted sailor rope and a piercing arrow. Former owner according to engraving: WAD CGB HYD BAY.

Salter Housewares The company was founded in the late 1760s in the village of Bilston in England by Richard Salter. He was the first manufacturer of spring scales in Great Britain. He called these scales Pocket Steelyards , although they work on a different principle than the steelyard scales. By 1825 his nephew George took over the company, which became known as George Salter & Co. George later established a manufacturing facility in the town of West Bromwich, about 7 km from Bilston. From here, the company produced a variety of scales, including the first bathroom scale in the UK. Other items were added to the range, including irons, mincers, potato shredders, coin-operated machines and the first British made typewriters. The company flourished in the 1900s and by 1950 it employed over 2000 people, still in the same area and owned by the same family.

Spring balances Spring balances use the linear and elastic elongation of a coil spring under the effect of a tensile force to measure tensile or weight forces. The linear expansion is measured, which is proportional to the tensile force in the linear expansion range of the spring according to Hooke’s law. For practical use, a coil spring is provided with a suspension or fastening device at each end and a scale and pointer along the spring path.

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124 Ladies’ gadget cane with monocular and paper fan Shaft: wooden Handle: silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): probably brass End of 19th century, probably French work Length: 92 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle can be opened and a cylindrical container removed from the inside of the shaft, which contains an unfolded paper fan decorated with flower motifs. The fan can be opened by pulling a small sphere upwards. A monocular is integrated in the handle as well. The lens can be pulled out. Presumably such gadget canes were used by ladies during their walks in nature. The fan could be used as a sunshade and you could observe the environment with the monocular.

125 Ladies gadget cane with fan Shaft: root wood, grained, possibly birch with oval cross-section Handle: silver, hinged with large monogram MM with oval cross- section Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1920 Length: 88 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After pressing the small push button on the handle, the silver lid opens. Now you can take a fan out of the shaft. The fan is made of fine yellow/green silk tulle and decorated with colored flower embroidery. Mounted on decoratively worked sticks. This is an elegant gadget cane for ladies of the upper class. You could wave it back and forth while walking to create a fresh breeze. But it could also be used as sun protection. It was very important for upper class ladies to preserve a pale complexion.

Fans A fan is a leaf-shaped object that causes a draft by waving it back and forth. The draft cools the face when it is hot by evaporative cooling. While in Europe, fans were used almost exclusively by women and are hardly common today, in Asia they are still used in everyday life by both genders. Until the early 20th century, fans were an almost indispensable fashion accessory for a lady. The fan was and is not a pure object of utility. The elaborate and expensive production made the fan a status symbol, the delicacy and sensitivity a symbol of femininity. Ladies had themselves portrayed with a fan in their hands and used it at parties to coquettishly peek out from behind. From the end of the 19th century onwards, fans made of wooden plates were also used as dance cards, on which the gentlemen entered themselves on the leaves of the fan, or as souvenirs, in which friends immortalized themselves with an adage and autograph. At the beginning of the 20th century, fans were also used as promotional gifts. This is still common in Japan today.

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126 Ladies’ gadget cane with fan Shaft: mahogany (wood) Handle: silver, decorated with rocailles (shell ornaments) Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of cane): brass and iron tip Manufacturer: probably John Gilbert & Co, Birmingham (England) Around 1900, England Length: 89.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A fan is completely embedded in the shaft. It can be opened to 180 degrees and locked to the shaft with a flap. This creates a semicircular fan. You had to fan with the whole cane, which was certainly not very practical. Originally American patent from 1882. Collar with English hallmark: Birmingham 1900 Silversmith J. G. & Co. The fashion of the 1900 century expected ladies to have a pale or even bluish complexion. For this reason it was important to protect yourself from the sun and even the heat of the fire. As a result, they were careful to always have a fan or parasol at hand. This led to several patents for ladies’ canes with an integrated fan.

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127 Ladies' gadget cane with fan Shaft: ebony, rectangular with rounded edges Country-style handle: metal, rectangular, covered with dark brown wood, silver lid and push button to open and close Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, black Manufacturer and distributor: Au Bon Marché, Paris (France) Around 1890, France Length: 96.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the push button is pressed, the silver lid opens. Now you can pull the orange fan attached to a silk thread out of the long handle. According to the embossing on the lid, the manufacturer is the first department store in the world: AU BON MARCHE PARIS.

Le Bon Marché, Paris Le Bon Marché, known as Au Bon Marché until 1989, is a Parisian department store in the 7th arrondissement (district of Paris), founded in 1838 by the Videau brothers. Under the direction of Aristide Boucicaut, this department store pioneered the development of European retailing. Le Bon Marché is considered the first department store in history and is today one of the best department stores in France. In 1848, the Boucicauts joined the brothers Videau as partners, and took over the majority of shares in 1852. Within a few years, they transformed the modest company of twelve employees into a superstore with a broad and deep assortment, fixed prices and intensive advertising. Boucicaut introduced, among other things, the then new idea of using pictures as an advertising medium. In 1863, the couple bought out the Videau family, who had reservations about the massive expansion of the Boucicauts. In 1869, there was a significant enlargement of the building in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel. This cathedral of commerce was very successful economically and was therefore imitated in 1855 by the Grands Magasins du Louvre. This was followed in 1856 by the founding of the department store À la Belle Jardinière, the Magasins du Printemps (1865) and the Samaritaine (1869). These imitators and competitors all settled on the Rive droite, the right bank of the Seine, while Le Bon Marché continued to dominate the Rive gauche. A large department store like Le Bon Marché with hundreds, and later thousands of employees, required a different management structure than a traditional family business. Aristide Boucicaut built his company into a strict hierarchy and held his employees to rigid rule. Nevertheless, guided by natural goodness and a Christian worldview, he sought to balance the loss of the familiar family environment with social measures. Aristide Boucicaut followed the trends in other progressive industrial and commercial enterprises. He was a founding member of an entrepreneurial society to research methods of employee profit sharing, which began in 1873 and annually published a magazine that dealt with relevant issues of profit- sharing beginning in 1879. With his paternalistic and philanthropic aspirations, Boucicaut's purpose was to keep employees close to the company, to discipline staff, and keep the emerging unions away. Le Bon Marché's social services included: non-contributory pension funds, employee savings, free evening training courses, a company choir and orchestra, company housing for single

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young employees, occupational health and provision funds. The provision fund of Le Bon Marché was founded in 1876 by Aristide Boucicaut. It was financed by the employer, and the members of the fund acquired the right to receive a small capital after certain terms were met.

128 Ladies' gadget cane with sewing utensils Shaft: Malacca (wood), blond Handle: porcelain, unscrewable with painted robin as well as various butterflies and flowering flower branch Collar (transition from handle to shaft): red and yellow gold, richly decorated Tip (lower end of the cane): horn Manufacturer: Antoine Paris (France) Around 1850, France Length: 89.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the porcelain handle is unscrewed, a sewing kit can be taken out of the hollowed out Malacca shaft. It consists of three ivory thread spools, a brass tube with three sewing needles and a gilded thimble decorated with embossed flowers. Manufacturer as embossed on the shaft: ANTOINE PARIS. Beautiful and very elaborately worked gadget cane for wealthy ladies from high society. The manufacturer Antoine is still located at the Rue de l'Opéra in Paris and is still one of the most famous umbrella and cane manufacturers.

Antoine Paris The Antoine shop offers the largest selection of canes and umbrellas in Paris. The company was founded in 1745 and has been located in Paris on the Avenue de l'Opéra since 1885. Antoine’s assortment includes not only extraordinary canes and umbrellas but also many accessories such as hats, caps, fans, gloves and bow ties. Mr. and Mrs. Antoine came to Paris in 1745 and initially settled in Pont-Neuf. They opened two stores, one at each end of the bridge. At that time the sale of umbrellas to men in Paris was reserved to porters. Consequently, the Antoine couple had the idea of renting umbrellas for the crossing of the Pont-Neuf. It was nice to stroll there, all of Paris was there: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire. Fifteen years later, in 1760, Antoine left Pont-Neuf and moved to the Palais-Royal district. Here they started to produce and sell canes. This district quickly became Parisians’ favorite destination for walks. Antoine has built up high esteem in the production and sale of canes and umbrellas for almost 125 years. It also experienced three revolutions, a return to monarchy and two empires. During the Second Empire, Baron Haussmann designed the Paris as we know it today. In these new luxury streets, gas lighting, buses and paved sidewalks were new and attractive features. The dimensions of these wide avenues allowed more space for the sun, which required the use of parasols. Antoine recognized the quality and prestige of these new avenues and opened a shop at 10, Avenue de l'Opéra. In this way he consolidated his undisputed reputation in the field of canes, umbrellas, parasols and gloves.

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129 Ladies’ gadget cane with hook Shaft: partridge (wood) Fritz crutch handle: silver, can be opened on one side Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Manufacturer: Thomas Brigg & Sons, London Around 1890, England Length: 94.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

One side of the fritz crutch handle can be opened and a hook removed. This was probably used for closing the button boots of that time. The hook could also have been used as an aid for closing gloves.

130 Ladies' gadget cane with manicure set Shaft: snakewood Handle: silver, gold-plated, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1890 Length: 91.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the handle you can pull a five-piece manicure set out of the shaft. The individual parts are beautifully crafted from wood, silver and ivory. Some of the gadget canes can be compared to handbags. You can find all the typical female small objects, carefully stored in them.

131 Ladies’ gadget cane with manicure set Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: enamel Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Tip (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1880 Length: 91.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the enamel lid of the handle and a five-piece manicure set for ladies is contained inside. It is a very luxurious gadget cane for wealthy ladies. Utensils stamped: A. WESTPFAL GERMANY GALVÉ

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132 Ladies’ gadget cane with perfume bottle Shaft: wooden Handle: silver with 3 engravings and enamel ornamentation Collar (transition of handle to shaft): probably silver with 5 hallmarks Probably end of 19th century Length: 92.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle with enamel ornamentation can be unscrewed and there is a small glass perfume bottle with stopper in the shaft. The enamel ornamentation consists of a clover leaf design with a filigree floral pattern.

Enamel The first known enamel work is 3500 years old and was found as a burial object in Mycenaean tombs on Cyprus. The ancient Egyptians were familiar with enamel work as well, both on gold and on iron. The Celts reached another peak in enamel technology in 500 BC with blood enamel. Enamel was used in the art of goldsmithing during the Middle Ages. Enamel art experienced its first heyday around the year 1000, possibly promoted by Empress Theophanu, who came from the Byzantine Empire. A typical type of enamel work of the early modern period is painting enamel, which was created in Limoges during the 16th century. The colored areas are no longer separated by bridges or metal parts. Instead, the colors are applied with a brush and blending into each other, allow for miniature-like, fine pictorial representations. In order to avoid tensions of the carrier material (and thus cracks in the enamel), the back of the main representation was also covered with enamel. This technique was replaced by enamel painting in the 17th century. Only the metal oxides are painted onto the white enamel base and fired. The procedure was used in France and Switzerland, in particular, and also in Germany. Clock covers and tobacco tins were typical applications of this decorative art. After the decline of enamel art in the mid-18th century, it was not until a century later that a return to ecclesiastical goldsmithing brought a revival of the old enamel art.

Hallmarks (silver stamping) Hallmarks, also known as silver marks, are the impressions on silver utensils and showpieces made of silver, which are punched with hammer and die stamp and identify the origin and purity of the object in question. A distinction must be made here: – The individual seal of the manufacturer (mark of the master, workshop or factory, master’s label), – The town mark (inspector’s mark), which is actually affixed by a municipal inspection authority, but often also by the manufacturer himself – The hallmark, which identifies the pure silver content in terms of value – The year letter, which in some places indicates the year of production in coded form In addition, various other inspection and tax stamps – As well as order and model numbers

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These markings make it possible to classify a large part of the historical silver objects in terms of time and location. Brand directories have been published for a number of countries, art environments, and cities.

133 Ladies’ gadget cane with perfume bottle Shaft: wood Handle: silver, hinged and crystal glass flacon with blue overlay and elaborately faceted Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Manufacturer: S. Mordan & Co., London (England) 1914, England Length: 94.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle of this ladies’ gadget cane is at the same time a flacon of crystal glass with a hinged silver lid.

S. Mordan & Co., London Sampson Mordan (1790 –1843) was a British silversmith and co- inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil. Sampson Mordan was an apprentice of the inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who patented the first elastic ink reservoir for fountain pens. In 1822, Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent in Great Britain for a metal pencil in which the mechanism propelled the graphite rod during use. The invention was an improvement of the less complex lead holders, which merely fixed pencils. Mordan paid off Hawkins and entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationery retailer. From 1823 to 1837 they jointly produced mechanical pencils made of silver. After the dissolution of his partnership with Riddle, Mordan sold his mechanical pencils under the company name S. Mordan & Co., and expanded its range with other silver and gold items. Mordan often made his pencils in bizarre shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies or other objects. Like his other cutlery and gold articles, the pencils are now collector’s items. Mordan was the father of six children. After his death in 1843 his sons Sampson the Younger and Augustus Mordan took over the company. S. Mordan & Co. also produced silverware and postal scales made of brass. After the factory was destroyed by the German air raid on London in 1941, known as The Blitz, the company ceased production.

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134 Gadget cane with perfume vaporizer Shaft: wooden Handle: mother-of-pearl Collar (transition from handle to shaft): mother-of-pearl Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron 1930s Length: 92.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

With a small turning movement, the handle lid comes up and you can now spray some perfume. After use, you press the handle cover down again and with a slight turn it locks back in place (bayonet lock).

Walking canes of the Art Deco Art Deco loves pure, geometric forms, for example spheres, right angles, and cylinders. There is almost always a striking contrast in terms of the colors and the materials used. The artists especially love the combination of different materials, in particular, for the handles. The handles tend to be geometrical and are often alternately striped. For example, stripes of smooth, shiny silver alternate with rough, opaque snake skin. Among the materials are the first plastics, celluloid, shark skin, gems and quartz. The era of art-deco canes, with its almost metaphysical austerity, represents an important moment in the development of walking canes. The canes represent the last act and thus the conclusion in the evolution of this extraordinary object.

135 Ladies' gadget cane with powder compact Shaft: wood Handle: enamel, hinged, decorated with small nroses with green vines Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Around 1870 Length: 93.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the lid of the enamelled handle. The handle contains a small gilded powder box with a tassel. There is a mirror in the opened lid. It is an elegant and beautifully crafted ladies’ gadget cane.

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136 Ladies’ gadget cane with candy dispenser Shaft: metal and wood with trompe l’oeil painting imitating bamboo Ball handle: rosewood, egg-shaped and red painted bone Collar (transition from handle to shaft): metal Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel Around 1920, probably France Length: 89 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The metal collar (ring) under the round handle is rotatable. A round hole opens up and you could then shake out spherical aniseed candies from Flavigny. The egg-shaped handle made of rosewood and red painted bone represents Cupid with bow and arrow in the bamboo forest.

Anis de Flavigny They are the oldest candies in France and were the Sun King’s favorite drops and in the 1930s were the first candy to be found in the Metro vending machines: Anis de Flavigny. They have been handmade in the small village of Flavigny in Burgundy since 719. First by the monks of the former Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Pierre, from 1591 by Ursuline nuns, and after the French Revolution by eight candy factories. Today, only the Troubat family keeps up the tradition.

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137 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: wood, printed Round handle: horn Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Meerschaum pipe bowl in brown leather sheath Around 1831 Length: 91.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the horn handle and the ferrule, an 87.2 cm long pipe stem is created. The separately carried meerschaum pipe can be attached to it. The horn mouthpiece can be screwed on. A dedication of the former owner is on the shaft: Graf Otto von Ottenstein Obristlieutenant Gemahlin Carolin Sohn Karl Fräulein Carolin und Josephin 1831 Brökl. (Count Otto von Ottenstein Lieutenant Colonel’s wife Carolin son Karl Fräulein Carolin and Josephin 1831 Brökl) Among the personalities depicted is Field Marshal Karl Pillipp Prince of Schwarzenberg (1771-1820). He was an Austrian field marshal as well as ambassador in Saint Petersburg and Paris. He was the commander in chief of the allied forces against Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. In the campaign of 1814 Schwarzenberg was able to withstand Napoleon on 20 March in the battle of Arcis sur Aube and on 31 March 1814, after the battle of Paris, he entered Paris victoriously.

Meerschaum pipes Pipes made of meerschaum, poetically they are also called the white goddesses. A meerschaum pipe is a pipe for leisure hours. A distinction is made between Turkish and African meerschaum. The original natural meerschaum comes from Turkey, where, the best deposits of it is located near the Anatolian city of Eki şehir. The pipe bowls are produced directly on site from the raw, unprocessed meerschaum blocks. The reason for this is that Turkey has banned the export of these blocks a long time ago. The second type is Massa-meerschaum, also called pressed meerschaum. In the case of Massa-meerschaum, the leftovers from production are washed, ground, mixed with lime and binding agents and dried. Finally, these are cut into blocks and processed like natural meerschaum. A third type is the so-called Amboseli-meerschaum. This kind is mined in Tanzania and does not have the same quality as the Turkish natural meerschaum. Meerschaum is a mineral substance with a special structure of countless small pores. These make the meerschaum very absorbent, especially for condensation during smoking, which makes the use of filters unnecessary. In addition, meerschaum is fireproof. This has the advantage for the pipe smoker of not posing a danger of burning through the pipe bowl. Furthermore, pipes made of natural sea foam have a neutral taste and are excellent for judging a tobacco. Another special feature is the discoloration of the pipe bowl due to smoking. As part of the production process, a meerschaum pipe is dipped in liquid beeswax after the carving is done. This wax bath then ensures that the pipe bowl changes color during smoking. The color change can go from light beige to yellow- brown to dark red.

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138 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: wood on copper end piece that can be unscrewed Round handle: wood, cylindrical with copper end Collar (transition from handle to shaft): copper Ferrule (lower end of cane): nickel and iron tip Around 1880 Length: 87 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the handle and the end piece as well. This results in an 82.1 cm long tobacco pipe. The handle is put on one end and used as a pipe bowl. The mouthpiece is made of silver-plated copper.

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139 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: ebony Handle: ivory, conical Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated, removable Meerschaum pipe head in brown textile bag Around 1860 Length: 78.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The ivory handle and ferrule can be unscrewed to create a 74 cm long pipe stem. The separately carried meerschaum pipe can be attached to it.

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140 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: Bamboo, ground flat Handle, angled: briarwood with nickel-plated brass ends Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1900 Length: 88.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the wooden angle handle and remove a 45 cm long tobacco pipe from the shaft. The fixed wooden angle handle serves as a pipe bowl. The wooden pipe stem is made of bamboo, the mouthpiece of dark horn with a flexible bit of rubber and textile braiding.

Bamboo pipes Pipe smokers will find that pipes with bamboo applications offer the advantage of being very light and that bamboo is a material which can absorb a lot of moisture.

141 Gadget cane for smokers with lighter Shaft: bamboo, dark Handle: brass, nickel-plated with floral pattern Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1900, probably France Length: 87.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Pulling up the handle reveals a rod-shaped lighter, which can be filled with tinder. It ignites when pressed in quickly and forcefully through compression and friction. The inscription BREVETE SGDG FRANCE ETRANGER is engraved on the brass rod with a hexagonal star and a tail bearing the letter H.

Breveté S.G.D.G. Breveté S.G.D.G. is the name of a patent which was valid in France until 1968. The term stands for Breveté Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement and means translated: Patent without government guarantee. Many countries maintained a system of registration after a simple formal examination for many years. They were considered free from any liability. For example, in France, the law of 1844 provides that patents are issued without prior examination, at the risk and peril of the applicants and without any guarantee of function, innovation or merit for the invention, including the precision or accuracy of the description .

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142 Gadget cane for smokers with cigarette and cigarillo dispenser Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver, gold plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1899, probably England Length: 89.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Opening the round handle cover reveals a cigarette dispenser with a rubbing surface for the matches. The rubbing cover can be opened as well and six cigarillos of 7.5 cm length can be found within. If the abrasive surface is pulled upwards, a circular fold-out match dispenser opens up. English engraving J.H John Hardman Patent No 2048, 1899 London.

Cigarillos Cigarillo means small cigar , which marks the most important difference to the cigar. It is usually barely thicker and longer than a cigarette, in other words, about half as long and at least a third less in circumference than its big relative, the cigar. Another difference between cigars and cigarillos is the much shorter smoking time. A cigar can be enjoyed between 45 and 90 minutes. Cigarillos will last only about 15 minutes.

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143 Gadget cane for smokers with cigarette case and match dispenser Shaft: partridge (wood) Handle: silver in the shape of a golf club Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel and iron tip Around 1900, probably from Austria Lender: private collection from the region

Pressing a rectangular button will open the cover of the cigarette dispenser which holds six cigarettes. It is all held in place by two elastic bands. Further down on the vertical part of the handle the cylindrical match dispenser can also be opened. The matches can be lit on a rubbing surface. Both dispensers are gold-plated inside and bear the hallmark SH 900 Sterling. The ferrule bears the inscription Gustav Jacobi K. und K. Hoflieferant (Purveyor to the Court) Vienna Kärthnerstrasse 39.

Purveyors to the Court Purveyors to the Court of Vienna supplied the imperial house in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Even today some traditional businesses still bear this title and offer the highest quality craftsmanship in a beautiful ambience. Luxury can be something very traditional in Vienna. During the imperial period in Austria, special craft enterprises were awarded a privilege that authorized them to supply the imperial court. The term Kaiserlicher Hoflieferant (Imperial Purveyor to the Court) was officially mentioned for the first time in 1782. In the course of time, this has developed into a prestigious honorary title and a first-class seal of quality that has been awarded to over 500 entrepreneurs. Although the court has long since ceased to exist in Vienna, the title of imperial and royal purveyor to the court still guarantees the best quality. Imperial and royal purveyors to the court can be found in all branches of trade, after all, the Viennese Court needed products and services of every kind.

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144 Gadget cane for smokers with cigarette holder Shaft: wood, black lacquered with horn tip Handle: silver, Aztec head with ivory headgear, ca. 8 cm long About 1878, probably England Length: 91.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A cigar can be inserted into the wide open mouth of the Aztec head, which can be smoked through the ivory mouthpiece. English engraving J. B. Thomas Bradbury Sheffield 1878

Gadget canes for smokers and their history Who could have predicted the importance of tobacco since its introduction to Europe and what the level of interest it would create? Some fashions pass very quickly, while others last for a long time. Tobacco came in various forms, with an impressive variety of snuffboxes. Despite this enthusiasm, there have also been opponents of this custom. We also know of Louis XIV’s aversion to tobacco, which did not prevent the spread of this fashion to Versailles. The idea of associating tobacco and tobacco objects with canes became very popular, especially in the 19th century. A different type of cane was available for each type of tobacco consumption. For example, fans of chewing tobacco had a specially designed cane. In Europe, the use of chewing tobacco was typical for seafarers or workers in factories or plants in particular to avoid the risk of fire. Therefore, these canes are of simple design in Europe. This was quite different in the United States. Chewing tobacco was common in all walks of life and therefore, elegant versions of the canes suitable for this purpose existed as well. Other canes were made for curling (chewing tobacco in powder form). The handle hid a small tin with the already powdered tobacco or with the tobacco that had to be ground into powder with a built-in grater. The fashion for chewing tobacco and snuff was largely replaced by the use of smoking tobacco in the form of pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. The different pipe canes were created in this context. Did you feel more like smoking cigarettes? Thin cigarette canes were developed for this purpose, often with a silver handle. A classic is certainly the cane with the handle in the form of a golf club (also on display in the exhibition). Cigars or cigarettes cannot be smoked without fire. Different means of lighting were adapted to the canes, such as the phosphorus matches with their scrapers. Others had a system of an adapted lighter integrated, such as flint lighters with tinder, chemical lighters, petrol lighter with scraper or automatic wheel.

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145 Gadget cane for smokers with petrol lighter Shaft: wood, black lacquered Handle: brass, burnished, made of five rifle cartridges Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1920, probably England Length: 89.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle bears a round coat of arms with the English royal crown and the lettering: Honi soit qui mal y pense (A scoundrel, who would think evil of it), Royal Dragoons. By pulling up the crest, a petrol lighter can be removed, which can be lit by turning the flint wheel on the lighter. The ammunition bears the designation R17W VII.

146 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: mahogany (wood), red-brown, graded Canted handle, hinged: silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated Around 1899 Length: 92.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the silver canted handle and take out the pipe.

Mahogany wood Mahogany wood is considered to be a particularly noble and elegant tropical wood. It is durable, very weather resistant and thus, mahogany is mainly used for luxury furniture, but also for interior fittings. Mahogany wood grows mainly on the east coast of the Central American continent, as well as in the tropical areas of South America, West Africa and the West Indies. Mahogany wood is mainly cultivated in the tropical forests of Brazil. The weather-resistant wood was introduced to Europe from the West Indies in the 18th century. The noble tropical wood is available in different shades, with the color tones ranging from reddish brown to light brown. Depending on the country of origin, the grain of mahogany wood can be spotted, striped, veined or flamed.

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147 Gadget cane for smokers Shaft: wood, black lacquered Canted handle, hinged: wood with brass nails and floral element fittings Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel and with iron tip Around 1850 Length: 86.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the canted handle and remove a tobacco pipe made of briarwood with an elongated wooden mouthpiece from the cavity.

Briarwood Briarwood by far has been the most important wood for pipe making for centuries. It is, in particular, the root wood of the tree heath, also called heather. Tree heather, of which the burls are harvested, grows mainly in southern areas of Europe, and occasionally also in North Africa. Cultivation of the tree heather on plantations in order to obtain the coveted burls has not yet been successful. Heather usually comes in the form of a shrub and more rarely a tree. Occasionally tree heathers can grow up to 20 m high. The wood used for the production of briar comes from the burls of the shrub. These burls of the tree heath can be up to 30 or 40 cm in diameter. After harvesting, they are cooked for a few hours and then dried for months. Only then do they acquire their final properties. The color of briarwood is usually between light brown and reddish brown, but can have many different shades. Because of the mineral deposits within, briarwood is very hard and also heat resistant. However, it is of medium weight. In addition, the dried wood is air-permeable. It can be polished very well to a fine gloss. The burls (bulbous thickening) are cut open and processed into scantlings. About three quarters of the wood used is waste being defective or damaged. The usable scantlings are mainly processed into pipe bowls. A very small quantity is also used to make very high-quality knife handles and very rarely high-quality jewelry.

148 Gadget cane for smokers with tobacco pipe Shaft: wood, black lacquered Handle: wood, Indian head carved, with scalp, silver and red hair Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and square iron tip Around 1900 Length: 91 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling up the Indian head you can take out a tobacco pipe with a mouthpiece of light-colored horn. The scalp can also be removed by pulling up the hair so that the pipe can be filled. The scalp contains a rubbing surface for the matches on the inside of the silver cover.

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149 Gadget cane for smokers with gripper for collecting cigarette butts Shaft: bamboo, dark Angular handle: horn, dark Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, long with iron tip Around 1910 Length: 101.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The long brass ferrule can be unscrewed and a gripper is released. The gripper can be opened and closed by pulling up the ring under the angle handle with the index finger. In this way, cigar and cigarette butts that still contained tobacco remains could be easily picked up. In wartime, when tobacco was rationed, these remnants were used to make a new cigarette. These cigarettes could even be sold again. Money earned in this way could be used to buy food.

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150 Tailcoat cane Shaft: Wood, black, wing varnish, in four segments, can be screwed appart Handle: plastic, crackled Ferrule (lower end of the cane): wood Manufacturer: H. Sulka & Company, London, New York, Chicago Around 1920 Length: 90.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the tailcoat cane and thus divide it into four segments. This gadget cane is still in its original sales box. This cane was carried by gentlemen when attending the opera or other official occasions of gentlemen. A tailcoat was worn with it.

The tailcoat A tailcoat is a gentleman’s garment, in particular, a waist-length jacket with the typical tails ( swallowtails ). However, colloquially, the entire tailcoat suit (with vest, trousers, etc.) is often called a tailcoat. It is considered the king of men’s clothing. In German it is called Frack from English frock. It was a garment of the lower, working classes. At the beginning of 1730, young nobles began to wear this frock on informal occasions. It was made of wool and was already cut at the front from the chest diagonally down towards the back. For riding, however, it was cut horizontally towards the back at waist level, creating the riding-coat. From about 1750 the tailcoat and the riding-coat came to France, where the tailcoat was called frac and the riding coat, as a special case, was called frac à l’anglaise or redingote. These two types of tailcoats became increasingly popular in France until they dominated the street scene at the end of the 18th century. From 1800 the frac à l’anglaise became more and more popular. Tailcoats generally changed very little in the following years, except that it was very waisted in the Biedermeier period. From 1850 onwards, the tailcoat was gradually worn only on special occasions. From the 1930s onwards, the tailcoat was partially replaced by the tuxedo.

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151 Tailcoat cane with ball donation (a small gift given to ladies at the ball) Shaft: wood, blackened Handle: ivory, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn 1904 Length: 71.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Removable ivory handle with pencil for entering the dances in the dance order of the Ballspende Vienna, 1904. Dance booklet with gold lettering and decoration with typical art nouveau motifs. Outside: III Ball of the Stockdrechsler Wien’s 20. February 1904 Inside: Third Stockdrechsler Ball Saturday, 20 February 1904 Baumann’s Stadtgut-Sälen Dance order. Before the break: 1. Waltz 1. Polka francaise 2. Waltz 1. Quadrille 1. Polka Mazur 3. Waltz 1. Ländler 4. Waltz 2. Ländler (Neubeurisch) 5. Waltz 2. Quadrille (cotillon) After the break: 6. Waltz (ladies’ choice) 3. Ländler (Neubeurisch) 3. Quadrille 7. Waltz 1. Scottish 2. Polka Mazur 8. Waltz 4. Quadrille 9. Waltz 4. Ländler 1. Polka fast M. Etlinger Gold printing and embossing institute Vienna, VII Kirchengasse 34,

Ball donation A ball donation, also called women's donation, is a small gift given to the ladies by the organizer of a dance ball, usually when they enter the ballroom. The custom of the artistically designed ball donation reached its peak between 1880 and 1900, experienced its last peak in the epoch of Art Nouveau, ebbed away in the hardship and distress of the First World War and finally lived on in later years as a meaningless relic in the form we know today. Today, however, they can still be found at traditional balls, such as the Vienna Opera Ball. In its original form, the women's donation is inseparably linked to the established dance order of a ball, which in turn played a very

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important role for the respective lady. Whereas it is common today for a lady to attend the ball accompanied by her partner, and to more or less exclusively dance with him, the situation used to be fundamentally different. The girl or lady appeared at the ball accompanied by her parents or a chaperone and hoped to find various dance partners. Gentlemen prompted by duty or inclination asked the lady, as early as possible, for reservation of certain dances announced in the dance order, which, to avoid all confusion, was entered on the dance card. So this dance order or dance card was a very important accessory that the dancing lady should always have with her. The women's donation was nothing more than an artistically designed form or wrapping of this indispensable item and gradually became a treasure , an original little work of art, competing in various social spheres and developing more and more in the direction of a hotly desired souvenir. A ball donation was often designed as an artistic booklet (Carnet de bal). The dance order and humorous articles were usually printed on the first pages. Empty pages for the dance entries followed next. A pencil inserted into the tab was intended for this purpose. The original form of ball donation was the dance card. Later, fans, jugs, vases, drinking vessels, plaques, statuettes, miniatures of buildings and musical instruments or mirrors were also presented as ball donations. Its actual purpose, the reservation of one or more dances with a lady, has been increasingly forgotten since the beginning of the 20th century. What has remained to this day, however, is that the ball donation is considered to be a nice souvenir gift.

152 Men’s gadget cane with personal care utensils Shaft: wooden Handle: pastic Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, gold-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1920 Length: 94.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can pull off the handle and then remove a case with a complete men’s necessaire from the shaft. It includes a shaving brush among other things.

153 Men’s gadget cane with manicure set Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver, ivory, hinged Collar (transition from handle to shaft): ivory Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1890 Length: 86.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the handle. The lower part of the gilded handle contains a holder with five holes in which the five different manicure pieces can be placed. There is a mirror in the opened inner part of the gold-plated lid.

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154 Gadget cane for men Shaft: wood Handle: Bakelite, with parts that can be opened on both sides Collar (transition from handle to shaft): metal Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1920 Length: 93.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle can be opened on both sides. There is a mirror on one side and on the other a moustache comb. A typical men’s gadget cane of the 1920s.

155 Gadget cane with pomander Shaft: wood, dark brown Ball handle: nickel-plated, unscrewable with holes and embedded round malachite Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel-plated, decorated with a snake crawling up Ferrule (lower end of the cane) horn Around 1890 Length: 98.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the malachite lid, the pomander can be filled with fragrant substances such as essential oils, cloves or smelling salts. Its scent came out through the holes in the top of the handle. These pomander canes were carried by doctors in the 18th and 19th centuries. They sniffed it just before they went on a sick call. They did this in the belief that they were protected from infection by the fragrances.

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156 Gadget cane with pomander Shaft: Malacca (wood) with round eyelets and silver thread tassel looped through them Round handle: ivory, pierced with silver nails, can be unscrewed and with holes Collar (transition handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron pin Around 1690-1720, England Length: 87 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The upper half of the perforated handle can be removed by turning it. The cavity underneath could hold a cotton ball or cloves soaked with fragrant essences. Its scent came out through the holes in the top of the handle. These pomander canes were carried by doctors around 1700. They sniffed it just before they went on a sick call. They did this in the belief that they were protected from infection by the fragrances.

Pomander The term pomander refers to fragrance preparations with ingredients such as ambergris or musk, as well as the portable, usually approximately spherical containers in which they were stored. Pomanders were used for medical purposes until the 17th century and often served as jewelry at the same time. There were cultural encounters with the Orient during the crusades. This is also how fragrances came to Europe. Pomanders were first mentioned in European culture in 1174, when the envoys of Balduin IV presented Frederick I with golden apples filled with musk. The pomander was a universal remedy, the hoped-for effect of which was inseparable from the fragrance. In addition, the pomander was supposed to strengthen the body’s defenses, as its scent drove away the demons and the vapors rising from the ground, thus strengthening the heart. Poor as well as rich people could carry a scented pomander with them. It could also contain cheap herbs and be wrapped in silk, carried in perforated wooden boxes or stored in precious metal containers. Depending on the indication, it could be held by the neck, nose or in front of the face, carried in the hands or applied to the pulse. Pomanders were particularly widespread during the plague pandemic of the 14th century and also during later epidemics. According to the doctrine, polluted air promoted infection with diseases, so that you had to counteract it by smoking with fragrances or using the pomanders. Although the pomanders usually had a medical purpose, they were also used as ornaments. Especially from the 15th century onwards, when the wearing of decorative objects became fashionable in the bourgeoisie. Undoubtedly, pomanders were also worn to conceal unpleasant body odors. Pomanders were occasionally also mentioned in books about cosmetics. They were quite popular in the 16th century as well. The rich were advised to sew fragrant scents into sachets for plague control. These could then be placed in the bed, worn under your clothes, or carried in the pomanders . Beautiful design was often of great importance in pomanders. Most of them consisted of gold or silver. Copper or other base metals were used only occasionally. Such noble containers were therefore only reserved for the rich. Each of the ingredients listed below was included in most

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recipes for pomanders: storax, rose petals, labdanum, musk, nutmeg, ambergris and cloves. The ingredients of pomanders hardly changed over the centuries, which was due to the already detailed production instructions and the high reputation of the authors of previous literature.

157 Gadget cane with handbag Shaft: Malacca tube (wood) with attached metal bracket bag Round hook handle: Malacca (wood) Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn, tapering to a point Manufacturer: M. Würzl & Söhne, Vienna, Karlsbad, Austria Around 1900, Austria Length: 95.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After you put the pointed horn ferrule into the soft ground, the metal bar could be opened and you had a two-piece bag at your disposal. In those days, ladies used to store handkerchiefs, reading glasses, wallet, powder compact, perfume bottle, as well as crochet and sewing things. They took pleasure in crochet or sewing work on the road. The green fabric bag can be turned 90 degrees on the cane depending on the desired orientation. Thus, the round hook handle did not get in the way. Manufacturer M. Würzl & Söhne, Vienna, Karlsbad. Patent protected by law.

M. Würzl & Söhne M. Würzl & Söhne was a Viennese company that was a leading supplier of travel requisites, suitcases and toiletries in Austria- Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century. Wilhelm Gerstell founded the company in 1839. The products were stylish and solid in their execution and enjoyed a worldwide reputation. In the course of half a century the company had grown from small beginnings to great importance. The factory was located at Gartengasse 17 in the 5th district of Margareten. With the expansion of traffic routes and means of transport, the demands of the travelling public increased and thus gave the impulse for the technical development of the baggage and suitcase production. M. Würzl & Söhne has always been one of the first companies to bring new ideas to the market without abandoning its proven solidity. Their products differed from the so-called average-quality goods because of the special care taken in their execution. The upper classess of Vienna and the province were among the regular customers of the company. In 1888, the company was awarded the Emperor’s highest recognition and in 1898 it was granted the title of Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Court (k.u.k. Hoflieferant). It was now permitted to call itself k.u.k. Hof- Reiserequisiten und Lederwaren-Fabrik . In 1901 Wilhelm Gerstell Sr. was awarded the golden cross of merit with the crown. In 1900 the company was also awarded the Persian title of purveyor to the court and the gold medal of the Persian Order of the Sun and Lion. In 1902, the company was awarded the title of a Greek purveyor to the court by King George of Greece, who personally procures his purchases every year. In 1903, on the occasion of the International Petersburg Exhibition Wilhelm Gerstell Jr. was awarded the Order of St. Stanislas III Class.

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158 Umbrella cane for men Shaft: Made of three painted and stained laminated paper tubes with horn tip Round handle: wood, varnished, stepped and flamed Around 1930 Length: 90.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The style of crafting chosen for the handle and shaft is intended to imitate bamboo wood. This cane is a removable silk/metal umbrella with protective cover. The shaft can be collapsed from 74.5 cm to 27.5 cm. This umbrella is suitable for sun and rain. The production of riding and carriage whips developed simultaneous to the walking cane industry and of course the popular invention of the umbrella. These items were often even made by the same company.

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159 Gadget cane with snuff box Shaft: wood with two brass eyelets and two silk tassels looped through Handle: silver, gilded, with colored painting enamel, hinged Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Factory: Pierre and Alexander Fromery, Berlin (Germany) Ornamentation and enamel: Christian Friedrich Herold, Berlin (Germany) About 1760, Germany Length: 92.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Beautiful snuff box as a handle with a hinged lid. Decorated inside and outside with painting enamel. There area rural shepherd scenes on the outside. The inside is painted with a sailing ship, temple complex and various inhabitants.

Christian Friedrich Herold (around 1700 in Berlin–1779 in Meissen) Enameller Christian Friedrich Herold from Berlin, Germany, probably began his journeyman’s time with Hoeroldt at the end of 1725, in the painting room of the Meissen manufactory. The files show that he continued to paint enamel boxes from Berlin even after that and was therefore repeatedly punished. Copper enamel works were found in 1737, during a house search which he had made illegally as an independent porcelain painter. Nevertheless, he continued to supply the Fromery company in Berlin, which is evidenced by a can lid showing Stanislaw Leszczynski’s escape from Danzig to the Bar Duchy and the signature Alex. Fromery a Berlin. Herold fecit. Alexander Fromery took over the fancy goods trade in 1738 after the death of his father Pierre. During his time, the cooperation with Herold was extended even further. Rainer Rückert found a file entry dated 24 May 1752 which proves that the painter Christian Friedrich Herold (...) knows how to affix figures of solid gold to porcelain and that figures of solidly beaten gold are permanently fixed . It was precisely this technique that made the émail de saxe , distributed by Fromery in Berlin, competitive with French products.

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160 Gadget cane as spittoon Shaft: bamboo Handle: copper, nickel-plated, in the shape of a dog’s head with unscrewable lid and open nostrils Collar (transition from handle to shaft): copper, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): wood Around 1900 Length: 87.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The intended use of this gadget cane is rather strange to us today. You can unscrew the cover of the handle in the shape of a dog’s head. The carrier of the cane could then spit the chewing tobacco he had in his mouth through the opening into the dog’s head. Then screw the lid back onto the handle and shake the cane a little back and forth. In this way, the remaining liquid could escape from the open nostrils of the dog’s head. When you had the chance later, you could unscrew the lid again and knock out the dried chewing tobacco.

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161 Gadget cane with photo camera Shaft: rosewood Handle: Bakelite, rectangular with built-in photo camera Coronet Midget Collar (transition from handle to shaft): horn, bright Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Manufacturer: The Coronet Camera Co, Birmingham (England) Around 1940, England Length: 95.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The viewfinder camera, which is permanently mounted on the shaft, can be equipped with 16 mm films. A fixed focal length and shutter speed are available. The film must be transported with the rotary handle. Manufactured by The Coronet Camera Co., Birmingham. British Patents Applied, Design registered. The so-called spy cameras were extremely popular. They were hidden in many seemingly harmless objects and thus also found their way into the handles of walking canes. In fact, there are many more patents than manufactured canes.

Coronet Camera Co. Coronet Camera Co. was a British camera manufacturer based in Birmingham. The company was founded in 1926 by Frederick W. Pettifer. Until 1967, it produced a large number of cheap box and folding cameras. After the war, they worked with the French company Tiranty to circumvent French import restrictions. Several Coronet camera models were made in France, some with Boyer lenses and some with instructions printed in French. Coronet also had its own film brands, including Corochrome.

Bakelite The first fully synthetic, industrially produced plastic was manufactured and marketed under the name Bakelite. It was developed in 1905 by the Belgian chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland and named after him. The thermosetting plastic is a phenol formaldehyde resin based on phenol and formaldehyde. Molded parts made of this plastic are produced by compression molding and curing a phenolic resin/filler mixture in a heated mold. Later, other plastics were also marketed as Bakelite, such as variants of phenol resins, aminoplastics, epoxy resins and polyester resins.

162 Gadget cane as coat hanger Shaft: wood, painted, black-red, separable into three parts Handle: wood, painted, black-red Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, light-colored Around 1910, probably France Length: 92.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The cane is composed of three elements. These can be unscrewed in such a way that the cane can be folded. This way the cane can be turned into a clothes hanger. The handle now serves as a hanger. A very practical cane when you travel.

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163 Gadget cane with gold coin validator Shaft: Malacca (wood), genuine Handle: ivory, cylindrical, vertically arranged, unscrewable with embedded bronze medallion Ferrule (lower end of the cane): bronze Manufacturer: Harrison & Simmons, Birmingham (England) Around 1820, England Length: 91.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the ivory handle is unscrewed, a beam balance cast in bronze can be pulled out of the hollowed-out shaft. The authenticity of the English sovereign and half-sovereign coins could be checked with it. This was necessary because sovereign gold coins were often counterfeited with material similar to gold. The weight test allowed you to distinguish the real coins from the fake coins. Manufacturer according to the stamp: HARRISON SOVEREIGN WARRANTED with British Royal Crown.

Sovereign The sovereign is the nominal value of an English gold coin, which Henry VII first minted in 1489. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the sovereign was displaced first by the Laurel, later by the Unite and the guinea. The minting of this gold coin was resumed in 1817 with a face value of one pound sterling at 20 shillings. Sovereigns since then have a gross weight of 7.98805 g and purity of 22 carats. The era of sovereigns as a means of payment first ended in Great Britain during the First World War in 1917 and in South Africa with the abolition of gold backing in 1932. Apart from London, cities in Commonwealth countries with their own gold deposits were the main places to mint coins: Ottawa, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Bombay, and Pretoria. From 1957 onwards minting of this coin as an investment coin was resumed. As such, the sovereign is also popular outside the UK.

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164 Gadget cane with coin dispenser Shaft: wood Fritz crutch handle: silver, niello ornamentation Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1880, probably Russia Length: 88.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle is also a coin dispenser for three different coin sizes. You can push the coins into the dispenser on the left, right and top of the handle. The silver handle is richly decorated with the niello technique. Cyrillic characters can be seen among other things. Hallmark: HK

Niello Niello refers to a decoration on silver, more rarely gold, and more recently on copper and bronze, which consists of drawings that are engraved or pressed in with steel plates and filled in with a kind of black paint. The niello technique was already known in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. A breast ornament, an axe and a dagger in niello technique were found even in the tomb of the pharaoh Ahhotep (1580–1540 B.C.), as well as in Mycenaean shaft tombs from around 1600 B.C. Niello was particularly popular in the Middle Ages, outstanding examples are the Tassilo chalice and the Paderborn Travelling Altar of Roger von Helmarshausen. Finiguerra from Florence, around 1450, was an outstanding master of the early Renaissance. Between 1885 and 1889 most of the niello works were created in Russia. The best known pieces were the silver tobacco tins made in Tula, but excellent works were also made in Vologda and Ustyug Weliki. Niello is used in particular for the black painting of the numbers and graduations of the minute circle on metal watch dials and for enameling gold watch cases.

165 Gadget cane with coin dispenser Shaft: rosewood Handle: silver, hinged with coin dispenser Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): wood Around 1900 Length: 89.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you press the button on the handle, the lid opens and the coin dispenser becomes visible. The lid is engraved with a wave pattern and the letter M. Hallmark: R, Löwe, RAT 5350.

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166 Gadget cane with ignition device Shaft: wood, black lacquered Fritz handle: Sterling silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel plated and iron tip Around 1890 Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you open the cover at the end of the handle you can take matches out of the cavity. A flap on the handle can also be opened. A candle is hidden inside which can be lifted with the slide button on the side. The patent is noted with date PAT Apr. 5. 87 On the silver handle.

167 Gadget cane with ignition device Shaft: bamboo Handle: horn (deer), angled and removable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron and iron tip Around 1900 Length: 85,3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the horn knob is unscrewed, a wick lamp or burner becomes visible. This could be used to light up or to light cigars. The collar carries the indication PATENT . In the knob there is a match dispenser, a rubbing surface and a signal whistle.

168 Gadget cane with lantern Shaft: bamboo Handle: brass, spherical and hinged Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Around 1890 Length: 95.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Unfolding the ball handle reveals a candle hidden inside. In addition, a pull-up wind-protective glass with metal ring. In this way a lantern is created, which is fed with oxygen through holes in the ball handle.

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169 Gadget cane with hand-held lantern Shaft: wood, brown, slightly flamed and stepped, imitating bamboo Round handle: formerly nickel-plated, hinged, conical Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1900 Length: 92.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The conical round handle can be opened by pressing the recessed button. You can then take out a 13.5 cm long hand- held lantern equipped with candles and use it as a lamp for outdoors. The handle lid contained the German patent notice: IN VERSCH. STAATEN PATENTIERT .

Gadget cane with lantern Since the beginning of time, man has tried to tame fire and utilize it for light and heat, which are so necessary for his well- being. Thus, it is not surprising to see that fire and light were combined with canes. Since ancient times, people used to rub two canes against each other to obtain fire. In the past, if you wanted to move around with a light staff, you had to carry an object that was usually bulky and difficult to hold or was held by a domestic servant. Therefore, it was obvious to think about placing a light source in canes. The very badly lit streets, the dark and winding staircases of buildings made it essential to have a light you could carry with you to avoid accidents and unpleasant encounters. As of 1785, there were already many patents for canes with light . This included candles that were hidden in a cane and could be used as torches. A cane from 1817 could be transformed into a lantern. Candles were installed in the shaft and attached to a spring. This allowed them to be kept at a certain height. Cane were continuously adapted to the different types of lighting. Thus, the oil, acetylene, petroleum and petrol lantern canes of the 19th century were created. They were perfected around 1900. The electric batteries got improved at the same time.

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170 Light cane Shaft: Acrylic glass Fritz crutch handle: nickel Around 1950 Lender: private collection from the region

A battery charged pocket flashlight with 1.5 V is integrated in the handle. When you press the red push button on the upper part of the handle, the cane lights up in full length. Very useful and well functioning warning light for night walks with or without a dog.

Acrylic glass Chemist Otto Rohm conducted research on special plastics with the aim of finding a type of acrylic rubber . He had already laid the foundation for this in 1901 with his dissertation polymerization products of acrylic acid. Although he did not succeed in his original goal of producing artificial rubber from the tough and heavy polyacrylate compounds, he entered the acrylate business in 1928 with the production of multi-layer safety glass. After the successes in the field of acrylates, he turned his attention to methacrylates at the end of the 1920s. This is where he and his team of researchers achieved the decisive breakthrough. Chance came to their aid. A sample of monomeric methyl methacrylate (MMA) had been stored in a bottle by the window. When daylight fell on it, it triggered a polymerization reaction. It destroyed the bottle, but left a block of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In further experiments it was possible to polymerize the raw material in a controlled manner between conventional glass panes and to obtain thin acrylic glass sheets. The new material was given the name Plexiglas and was registered as a trademark in 1933.

171 Gadget cane with signal light Shaft: wood, light brown Round hook handle: wood with plastic end piece, red Collar (transition from handle to shaft): horn, light-colored Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1900 Length: 91.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you turn the horn collar, the bulb in the red end piece is switched on. In this way the cane will shine towards the back. Approaching vehicles are thus made aware of the pedestrian. Of course, this cane could also be used to summon carriages and later taxis. The tubular battery is located in the shaft.

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172 Gadget cane with signal light Shaft: wood, brown speckled Round handle: rust-brown, conical Collar (transition from handle to shaft): aluminum Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated with iron tip Around 1900, probably Austria Length: 88.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By twisting the conical round handle an electric light bulb is switched on and the handle lights up red. In this way, you could summon an approaching horse-drawn carriage in the dark. AUSTRIA und GESETZL GESCHÜTZT [and PROTECTED BY LAW] is written on the collar. This gadget cane was mainly used in Vienna to summon a fiacre. The chance to attract attention was of course much greater with the red light. The tubular battery is located in the shaft.

173 Gadget cane with lantern Shaft: wood, reddish brown Round hook handle: wood, reddish brown Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel, rotatable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Around 1930 Length: 90.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you turn the nickel collar, an electric light bulb appears in the oval opening. It shines forward and draws the attention of oncoming vehicles to the pedestrian. This cane is also very suitable for walking on unlit paths or tunnels.

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174 Gadget cane with compass and sundial Shaft: rosewood Handle: ivory, faceted, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Tip (lower end of the cane): ivory Around 1880, probably England Length: 95.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The ivory lid can be unscrewed. Underneath it is a compass with a built-in sundial embedded in the handle. These are protected by a domed watch glass. This is a very practical and fashionable model for gentlemen without a pocket watch. English compass inscription.

Sundials A sundial indicates the time of day by the position of the sun in the sky. The line-shaped sun shadow of a rod usually serves as the pointer. The shadow rotates during the day on the dial, which is scaled with the hours of the day, around the fixing point of the rod. The variety of sundials produced mainly differ in shape and orientation of the dial. The most common variant is the vertical sundial with a flat dial, often on a building wall. Sundials have been in use since antiquity and were still mostly referred to when talking about clocks at the beginning of the 19th century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, they were used only to display the noon hour (so-called noon indicators) to adjust mechanical watches that were still too imprecise. Today, they are often only used as decoration on buildings, in gardens and parks.

175 Gadget cane with compass Shaft: wood, brown Handle: ivory, cylindrical with gilded copper rim and built-in compass Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1880, probably Germany Length: 93.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The compass built into the handle is always visible. It's a very elegant cane. German inscription.

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176 Gadget cane with globe Shaft: Metal tube, 4.4 cm in diameter, conically running, covered with blackened wood veneer Handle: bronze, disc-shaped, round Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn, graduated with iron tip Manufacturer: George Philip & Son, London and Liverpool (England) Design by: John Betts (publisher), London (England) Around 1880, England Length: 94.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the bronze handle is unscrewed, a metal ring can be used to pull a globe, which has been inserted into a silk case, out of the thick metal shaft. It can be stretched like an umbrella to form a globe and hung on an iron ring. The world map is printed on silk. The globe can be hung on the iron ring in a classroom. Labeling on the globe: BETTS'S PORTABLE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE COMPILED FROM THE LATEST AND BEST AUTHORITIES LONDON: GEORGE PHILIP & SON 32 FLEET STREET, LIVERPOOL CAXTON BUILDINGS AND 45 & 51. SOUTH CASTLE STREET BY THE QUEEN'S AND ROYAL LETTER PATENT.

John Betts, publisher John Betts (born 1844 –1875) was a London publisher specializing in low-cost educational products that were large enough for children to easily perceive. This special type of foldable globe was patented by Betts in the 1850s. The company was taken over by George Philip & Son around 1880. With regular updates, the globe was produced well into the 1920s. A version of the portable globe from the 1850s, made by Betts, had a diameter of 12.5 cm and eight hand-lithographed paper slits. Cotton cords between the gaps and the paper passing through the rods were pulled on a thread and attached at the top with a bead to form an inflated globe. A facsimile edition of this globe, made in the same way as Betts’ original globe, can still be purchased from a British globe maker.

George Philip & Son card publishers George Philip (1800 –1882), cartographer and map publisher, was born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, into a Calvinist family. Two of the sons became ministers, and the teaching of the local minister taught George the value of education for all. He began his career at a bookstore in Liverpool and later founded his own company. He gave orders to well-known cartographers for maps on copper plates, which he had printed and hand-colored. Most of his production was intended for the commercial and especially the educational market. The company supplied atlases and textbooks for many overseas countries in several languages, starting with an atlas for Australian schools in 1865 and for New Zealand in 1869. The company also published many maps of New Zealand. George Philip and Son was sold in 1988 to Octopus Publishing Co, part of the Reed International Group of Companies, London.

The globe of the Hocken collection, New Zealand, is made by George Philip and Son. It is packed in a wooden box and can be opened by an umbrella-like mechanism made of metal. It is intended as a low-cost portable educational device for classroom instruction that can be easily transported and loaned to schools.

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The wedges are made of silk. Specimens in good condition are very rare because of the wear and tear of the silk.

177 Globe gadget cane with compass and sundial Shaft: wood, light brown with two brass eyelets and silk tassel looped through Handle: ivory ball, hinged with scrimshaw technique engraving depicting the world globe with a three-masted whaling ship in the Pacific Ocean and three submerging sperm whales scattered across the oceans. Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass without iron tip Around 1870, probably England or USA Length: 91.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you open the ivory ball, the compass and sundial become visible. The compass is aligned with the sun and the string connecting the compass to the sundial casts a shadow on the engraved scale of the sundial. In this way the time can be read. This cane was probably made in England or America.

Scrimshaw Scrimshaw is a miniature scratching and engraving technique on animal materials such as ivory, horn or bone. Plastics are also used to some extent. The term scrimshaw originates from the era of the whalers, who in the 18th and 19th centuries spent their free time decorating whale bones and teeth while travelling and also at home. They preferred to scrimshaw on the teeth of sperm whales, which were a waste product of whaling. Most of the work on sperm whale teeth and whale bones comes from North American whalers. The tusks of walruses were often decorated with scrimshaw as well. To produce a scrimshaw, the surface to be worked is first polished to a mirror finish. The motif is then scrimshawed into this surface with a fine, needle-sharp tool, in other words carved or very finely dotted. This is done under a magnifying glass or microscope. To make the motif visible, the entire surface is rubbed with paint after scrimshawing and then wiped off again. Where the surface of the material has been carved, the paint will stick. Usually several passes are necessary, the exact number depends on the hardness of the material and the experience of the artist.

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178 Gadget cane with flag Shaft: Metal, chrome-plated Ball handle: wood, black painted Tip (lower end of the cane): iron, soldered Manufacturer: J.A.B. Madden Specialties, Detroit (USA) Around 1920, USA Length: 91.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling the wooden ball handle out of the raw metal shaft, a metal tube appears which can be locked by turning. An American flag with 48 stars is attached to it. Together with the shaft, a flag with a pole length of 135.5 cm is thus available. It can be conveniently waved above the heads of the spectators at events. Manufacturer according to the label on the pull-out flagpole: J. A. B. MADDEN SPECIALTIES 4665 Woodwart Ave. Detroit Patent Pending NRA Member WE DO OUR PART. The flag with 48 stars was valid in the period 1912–1959. With the accession of New Mexico on 6 January 1912 and Arizona on 12 February 1912, the USA had 48 states. The 48-star flag was the victory flag of the US Army in the First and Second World Wars. With this flag, the arrangement of the stars was also clearly defined for the first time.

Flag of the United States of America The flag of the United States of America is also called the Star- Spangled Banner or Stars and Stripes. It consists of seven red and six white stripes representing the thirteen founding states, and a blue flag field in the upper left corner, whose current 50 white stars symbolize the 50 states of the USA. Another star is added after the addition of a further state pursuant to § 2 of the US Flag Act with effect from the following 4 July (Independence Day). The colors red, white and blue have their origin in the Union Jack as the flag of the English colonies. Their symbolism in the star- spangled banner is: white for purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice. The national anthem of the United States, The Star-Spangled Banner, praises the flag. Flag Day is celebrated on 14th June, which is a national holiday only in Pennsylvania and American Samoa (on 17th June).

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179 Gadget cane with map Shaft: wood, dark brown round hook handle: wood Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel plate Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Manufacturer: IN-A-CANE Display Co., Boston, Massachusetts (USA) Around 1940, USA Length: 87.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you pull out the embedded metal bracket from the shaft, a city map of Boston in Massachusetts (USA) appears. The cane served as a guide for Boston for the participants of the American Legion Convention in 1940. Manufacturer as printed on the card: IN-A-CANE Display Co., 53 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Sole Distributors – Patent Pending. All rights protected. The original sticker with the inscription THE AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION. BOSTON – 1940 is still stuck on the shaft. A parade was held for this American LEGION CONVENTION on 24 September 1940 which lasted an incredible 12 hours and 15 minutes. This type of canes were probably also used for other occasions or sold to tourists.

American Legion The American Legion is a veteran organization of the United States Armed Forces based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr, the eldest son of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt is considered to be the founding father of the American Legion. The first national assembly of the American Legion was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1919. The current number of members is estimated at 2.4 million. At a meeting of the American Legion in Philadelphia in 1976, 221 of 4500 participants fell ill with a previously unknown infection of the respiratory tract. 34 legionnaires died. Without knowing the pathogen, the disease was called Legionnaires' Disease . In 1977, Joseph E. McDade succeeded in identifying Gram- negative rod bacteria as the pathogen. These had colonized the cooling water systems of the air conditioning system of a hotel.

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180 Gadget cane with map Shaft: wood, dark brown black speckled Ball handle: wood, painted black Collar (transition from handle to shaft): wooden Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Planned and drawn: Louis Trinquier, Paris Around 1889, France Length: 86.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling out the metal bracket with leather flap inserted in the shaft, a city map with the World Fair of 1889 in Paris, noted on it appears. Plan de l'exposition universelle avec ses abords ET MOYENS DE CIRCULATION 1889. Dressé et dessiné par Louis Trinquier.

Louis Trinquier-Trianon (1853 –1922) Louis Trinquier-Trianon was born in Lausanne in 1853 and died in Paris in 1922. At the age of seventeen he left his family and his instructors in the art of painting. He wanted to explore the famous places of the great battlefields. He settled in Strasbourg and later in Metz. He did his military service in France. After he was discharged from service, he followed his passion and became an illustrator, poster designer, draughtsman, topographer at the drawing school of the army’s geographic service. Due to his abilities and longstanding cooperation, he was appointed professor. In 1907, he became director of this drawing school. He also worked under the pseudonym Trianon, Trick, Quic as an illustrator for various magazines such as La Vie Moderne , La Caricature , Le Monde Illustré, Le Figaro Illustré , etc. Trinquier- Trianon also illustrated many luxury volumes. He was also appointed Knight of the Legion of Honor.

Paris World Fair 1889 The Paris World Fair of 1889 (French Exposition universelle de Paris de 1889) was the tenth World Fair. It took place from 6 May to 31 October 1889 on the occasion of the centenary of the French Revolution and was therefore politically controversial in a largely monarchically organized Europe. The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair. According to BIE, the exhibition area covered a total of 96 hectares. Art and industry were presented at the Champ de Mars and in the old Palais du Trocadéro. The colonies and the military had their exhibition areas on the Esplanade des Invalides. The coordinator of the exhibition was Jean-Charles Alphand, a former employee of Georges-Eugène Haussmann, the chief engineer of the city of Paris. Among the innovations presented were the Edison phonograph, an improved bicycle and the Girard water sledge. The exhibition is also regarded as the initial spark for the French automotive industry. The Eiffel Tower was considered one of the main attractions. At 312 meters high, it was the tallest building on earth and served as an oversized entrance gate to the exhibition. A reconstruction of the Bastille, a negro village with 400 inhabitants, two tethered balloons filled with hydrogen and the enormously successful Wild West Show of Buffalo Bill were among the attractions of the world exhibition. With expenditure of 41.5 million francs and revenue of 49.5 million francs, the Expo was also financially successful. Of the

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large industrial nations, only the USA and Republican Switzerland participated because of the revolutionary motto.

181 Gadget cane for pedestrians Shaft: aluminum, painted brown with wooden end piece and missing unscrewable rubber tip Round hook handle: wood Manufacturer: Saf-A-Kros Cane Co., San Jose, California (USA) Around 1930, USA Length: 86.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the grooved button, which is attached to the front of the cane, is pushed up, an 8 x 30 cm textile canvas appears on the shaft. It is marked with large red letters STOP. This cane is used to help elderly people cross roads. This was necessary because at that time there were no or only very few traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Manufacturer according to imprint: SAF-A- KROS CANE CO. SAN JOSE CAL(IFORNIA). Product designation according to imprint: SAF-A-KROS TRAFFIC CANE PATENTS PENDING.

182 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: Malacca (wood) Round handle: silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Manufacturer: L. Holuska, Vienna (Austria) Around 1890 Length: 93.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The Holuska watch is integrated in the shaft. The patent includes the Holuska watch with the spring mechanism, balance escapement and a running duration of one day, as well as a silver-plated dial behind the glass. The watch can be wound by rotating the engraved silver handle.

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183 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: wood and in the upper part, tortoiseshell Handle: tortoise shell with watch Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1900 Length: 90.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Gadget cane with open visible watch, which is incorporated in the tortoise shell. The watch is protected by a glass.

Tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell is a biogenic material that can be obtained from the flat horny scales of the dorsal shield of three species of sea turtles. The pattern and thus the quality of the tortoiseshell depends on the species of turtle and the geographical origin of the animal. Light yellow tortoiseshell with a brown to black pattern comes for example mainly from East India. Light reddish- brown tortoiseshell with a dark reddish-brown pattern, on the other hand, comes from the Egyptian turtle. American tortoiseshell is mostly red-stained. Monochrome bright plates (blind tortoiseshell) are a rarity. In the 18th and 19th century, tortoiseshell was imported into Europe mainly from the Bahamas, the Antilles, the Cape Verde Islands and from Guyana. Tortoiseshell was obtained in the regions of origin and shipped to Europe. Whole shiploads could be destroyed by worm infestation, which was greatly promoted by the long transport routes and lack of air supply or circulation. The tortoiseshell was then sold by the pound to traders and craftsmen in European ports, such as Marseille, Amsterdam and Hamburg. The hunting of sea turtles for their shell was, in addition to the drowning of many animals as by-catch in fishing nets and the destruction of their habitat through the construction of coastal areas, largely responsible for the decline in the population of some turtle species. The affected species were therefore put under strict protection by the Washington Convention of 1973 (CITES) and the trade of tortoiseshell was prohibited.

184 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver, richly decorated, with inlaid watch, openly visible Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver, richly ornamented Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1880, probably Germany Length: 84 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Gadget cane with open visible watch in the handle. The watch is protected by a glass. The cover can be opened. The collar is engraved with scenes of a horse race. Patent application note visible: Protected.

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185 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: ebony Handle: brass, nickel-plated with inlaid clock Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1890, Switzerland Length: 89.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A visible clock is embedded in the handle. The glass lid can be opened by pressing the locking bar. Swiss patent.

186 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver with watch Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1891, England Length: 87.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Gadget cane with open visible watch in the handle. The watch is protected by a glass. There is a separate key with a silk tassel to wind the watch. The watch can be folded up from its holder. The bottom of this holder contains the following hallmarks: Löwe, Q, 91735 JO

Watches in canes Early timepieces were sundials such as the precious one from the possession of Duke Albrecht of Bavaria. Maximilian III of Bavaria’s cane includes a verge watch. In the 17th and 18th centuries, pocket watches were built into the handles of canes. But only very rich people could afford such a luxury. The verge watches were especially suitable for combination with a cane, because you can wind them up from the front and can also set the hands. But the watches themselves, even those with cylinder and the higher quality lever movements, were never made for canes. The special winding method was patented. Under the Swiss patent of 1899, the watch could be wound by turning the entire upper part of the watch. In all these watches with normal movement and those with winding mechanisms modified for canes only, the watch is the handle, the dial points upwards, is visible or can be closed by a spring cover. As can be seen with this gadget cane. The only watch made exclusively for canes is the Holuska watch (patent Vienna 1885). The clockwork hidden in the cane has a thick balance wheel, the cylinder escapement is wound up by the handle. The dial is small and visible on the side of the handle or shaft. Moreover, some handles were made as containers into which you could insert a regular pocket watch.

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187 Gadget cane with pocket watch Shaft: wood Handle: brass, silver plated, hinged with inserted pocket watch Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, silver-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1890, France Length: 94.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle with glass cover can be opened and the pocket watch underneath removed in this gadget cane.

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188 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver, in the shape of a skull, hinged and integrated watch with separate key for watch movement Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1880 Length: 89.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle in the shape of a skull hides a watch. You can open the skullcap and the watch inserted underneath without a protective glass becomes visible. You can wind up the movement with the separately enclosed key. It is the typical representation of the memento mori.

Memento mori Memento mori is a Latin phrase that can be translated as “Remember that you will die!” or, more generally, “Remember death!” The phrase is considered a vanitas symbol. Vanitas describes the Christian and Jewish idea that all life on earth is transitory. Such vanitas motifs show and remind us that man has no power over life. Hourglasses or skulls are often found in art which illustrates that all life must end at some point. In addition, there are aphorisms that take up this theme, such as memento mori or carpe diem. The phrase memento mori dates back to the Middle Ages, but has been increasingly used since the Renaissance and experienced an absolute peak in the works of Baroque literature and art. There is evidence of the phrase memento mori having been used as early as the Middle Ages and is most likely a corruption and shorthand of the Latin phrase Memento moriendum esse, which means to remember that you must die, although the phrase probably originated in medieval monasteries. It is to be assumed that this guiding principle became popular through the Cluniac Reform, a spiritual reform movement of the Catholic Church, which can be traced back to the High Middle Ages (ca. 1050 to 1250), and from then on lasted for centuries. The reform first covered monastic life and then the papacy. The reason for this was that church life had reached its moral low point in the Middle Ages. For example, an increasing number of popes were involved in serious crimes and aroused the public with an ostentatious lifestyle, which also earned the Catholic rulers between 882 and 1046 the designation “women and whores regime” or the age of pornocracy. The Cluniac reform was intended to remedy these shortcomings. The essential ideas of the reform were that monks were required to live strictly according to the Regula Benedicti (Rule of Benedict), to show the greatest possible conscientiousness in daily worship, to deepen the piety of the monks and to remind them that life on earth is transitory. It is the last core idea that has survived the centuries as memento mori. The essential point here is that man should remember that he will die and the most important thing in life is to prepare for his own death, in other words, the Day of Judgment, in order to ensure his own salvation. This idea was taken up in various epochs from then on.

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189 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: silver, hinged with embedded watch Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1890, Switzerland Length: 87.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The lid on the handle can be opened. The embedded clock is visible below it. The watch is a Swiss patent. Engravings in the lid: SP135, 800 silver, 270 , with hallmark (a pigeon).

190 Ladies’ gadget cane with multiple functions Shaft: metal, painted Handle: silver with embedded watch, powder compact, fold-out Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1910 Length: 91 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A watch is embedded in the handle, which is visible from above. The silver handle can be opened as well and a powder box with powder puff is revealed. There is a mirror in the opened lid. The handle can be folded down from the shaft and a glass perfume bottle with a stopper can be removed from the shaft. This is a very beautiful ladies’ gadget cane with multiple functions.

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191 Gadget cane with watch Shaft: metal, painted black Handle: snake skin, with watch, hinged Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Manufacturer: Adolf Schild SA, Grenchen (Switzerland) Around 1930, Switzerland Length: 89.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you press the button on the handle, it can be opened and the square watch which is inserted can be set up.

Adolf Schild SA, Grenchen As early as 1851, school teacher Urs Schild and physician Dr. Josef Girard acquired the right to establish a watchmaking business in Grenchen (Switzerland). One year later Urs Schild becomes the clerk and accountant of the new Rohwerke Girard Freres & Kunz factory. On 7 November 1856, physician Josef Girard and Urs Schild buy the factory and establish the ébauche (an incomplete watch movement consisting of plates, bridges, wheels, and barrels to be finished and fitted with jewels, escapement, mainspring, hands, and dial) factory Dr. Girard & Schild. After 10 years, physician Dr. Girard leaves the company and sells his shares for 35,000 Swiss francs to co-founder Urs Schild. As sole owner, he now renames the company to Präzisionsuhren-Fabrik Gebrüder Schild (Precision Watch Factory Brothers Schild). Adolf Schild, Urs’ brother, joined the company as early as 1865. The automated production of components with the support of steam engines was started in 1870. The individual parts can now be manufactured more precisely, and the repairs of Eterna watches become cheaper. In 1874, the company falls into a crisis, which it survives through wage cuts for the 300 workers. In the following year, the first Eterna watches, which were manufactured entirely in-house, leave the factory. From 1878 Eterna also produces its own cases and dials. Urs Schild accepted a seat on the Swiss National Council in 1882. However, he died in 1888 at the age of only 58 years. After the death of Urs, his two sons Max and Theodor and his brother Adolph take over the management of the company. In 1891, Max Schild becomes the director and in 1896 Adolph leaves the company and establishes Adolph Schild S.A. (AS or ASSA), which also produces ébauches. Meanwhile, Max uses the knowledge he acquired during his studies in the USA to further increase quality and production volumes. More emphasis is placed on machines and the workforce is rationalized. In 1898, Max resigns and one year later his brother Theodor takes over the helm. Theodor continues to push for progress and converts the factories to electric propulsion and has them equipped with electric light in 1902. The name Eterna has been placed on the dials since 1883. In 1906, the limited partnership Eterna-Werke, Gebrüder Schild & Co. is founded, and Eterna becomes the official name. Eterna concentrated intensively on wristwatches at an early stage and patented a special watch case in 1904. Four years later, a patent is filed for the first alarm clock. The alarm clock was first presented in Bern in 1914. Eterna continues to grow during the First World War and

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expands its own factories. However, industrialization led to overproduction and a fall in prices. The prices of ébauches fell by up to 85% between 1912 and 1922. Theodor Schild demanded that the Société Suisse des Frabriques d’Ebauches et de Finissages stabilize the prices, but was ultimately unsuccessful. In 1921, 30,000 workers in the Swiss watch industry were unemployed. For this reason, the Swiss Federation Horlogere (F.H.) was founded in 1924, uniting 80 percent of the manufacturers. Three years later the ébauches producers ASSA, FHF and AM founded Holding Ébauches S.A. Eterna and Ebauches S.A. concluded a friendship agreement in the same year. In 1928, Eterna has over 1,000 employees and produces more than 1 million ébauches annually. In 1930, Eterna produced the smallest serial baguette movement for ladies’ wristwatches. The caliber 610 has a size ratio of 3:1 and was only 22.5 mm long. The movement was made with machines, and was therefore much cheaper than the Jaeger Le- Coultre movement 101. It was produced with a simple silver case or with decorated and engraved gold cases in Art Deco style.

192 Gadget cane with easel Shaft: wood with complex folding mechanism and painted with plant garlands Handle: wood, small Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, removable Around 1880 Length: 93.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

There are two brass brackets at the top of the shaft which can be pulled out. The ferrule can be removed and at the top you now have to unfold a metal hook from the shaft as well. Afterwards the shaft can be unfolded several times along its entire length. This results in a tripod stand among other things. At the same time, other wooden bars can be folded up in the upper part of the shaft. The two brass brackets that have been pulled out can now be inserted on both sides of the wooden bars. These brackets then serve as supports for the canvass. This was a cane that artists took with them on walks. As soon as they had found a suitable motif, they set up the easel and began with their artwork.

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193 Gadget cane with sealing implements Shaft: brass veneered with wood, black lacquered Round handle: silver, richly decorated, with engraved crown and unreadable monogram, removable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Manufacturer: probably Anton Scheid, Vienna Around 1880, probably Austria Length: 88.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After removing the silver handle from the shaft, you can pull out a signet from the handle. On it are five double-sided usable signets with French sayings and congratulations as well as a silver matchbox with a rubbing surface. The shaft can also be pulled apart into two parts. A candle, sealing wax as well as a pen and pencil can be taken from it. This provides a high-quality set for writing letters. Silver handle with hallmark: as probably stands for Anton Scheid, Vienna The Viennese silversmith Georg Anton Scheid (1838-1921) made designs for the most important artists of the Wiener Werkstätte (engl.: Vienna Workshop, a productive cooperative of artisans in Vienna, Austria), such as Koloman Moser and Josef Hoffmann, among others.

194 Water color painter’s cane Shaft: brass, veneered, consisting of five brass tubes that can be screwed apart Right-angled handle: lizard-skin Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, finely decorated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1880 Length: 90 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The entire painting material is fitted into the brass tube with millimeter precision. Inside the right-angled handle, fitted under the horn lid, is the water cup or brush container. After you have unscrewed the brass tubes, you can screw on the three brass legs at the bottom of the shaft. A painting palette with ten colors can be mounted across the shaft in the upper part. A turpentine container is mounted separately as well. A small decorated brass easel remains in the attachment. The cup for the painting water or brushes is in the handle, which is screwed on the side. All materials used are very exclusive and show that this was certainly a luxurious accessory. The painting style of impressionism was created in the second half of the 19th century. Most impressionist works were painted in the open air (en plein air) and in a sketchy manner. This technique made it possible to quickly capture the reflections of the light. This also explains why there are several different gadget canes that made it possible to paint outdoors in nature.

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195 Gadget cane with writing set Shaft: bamboo, spotted Round hook handle: bamboo, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft):silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Manufacturer: K & S Ltd. Kendall & Sons, London (England) Around 1884 or about 1944, England Length: 90.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the round hook handle, a silver inkwell and a quill knife from the company Rodgers Cutters to her Majesty can be removed from the hollow shaft. Joseph Rodgers & Sons was located in Sheffield (England). According to the engraving and hallmark on the Collar, the former owner of this cane was J.L. Balmforth Ormskirk, a hardware and car dealer in West Lancashire England. Silversmith: K & S Ltd Kendall & Sons, London 1944 hallmark on inkwell: Birmingham 1884. Thus, it is older than the cane or the silver collar was engraved later (1944) by the owner at that time.

Joseph Rodgers & Sons, Sheffield Joseph Rodgers is perhaps only surpassed by George Wostenholm in terms of his importance to Sheffield cutlery and his worldwide fame. As with many cutlery companies in Sheffield, the early history of Joseph Rodgers is a little unclear. It is said that a cutler named Joseph or John Rodgers worked in a building in Hawley Croft near what is now Sheffield Cathedral. In 1730, his two sons Maurice and Joseph took over the company. The symbol of the star and the Maltese cross was originally registered in March 1682 by a Benjamin Rich. However, this symbol is forever associated with Rodgers and registered in 1764. With the increasing trade of the products, which are probably only known as pocket knives, the company moved to larger premises on Norfolk Street around 1780. Around 1800, Rodgers’ product range was expanded to include razors, table cutlery and scissors, and in 1821 the company was first appointed as a cutler for the Royal Family. At this time and as inspiration for this prestigious title, Rodgers opened his first showroom. There they proudly exhibited their wares, among them later the two probably most famous knives of Rodgers, the Year Knife and the Norfolk Knife. The Year Knife series was started in 1822, adding a new blade for each year of the Christian era (the knife now contains two thousand blades). The Norfolk Knife, made for the 1851 World’s Fair, took two years to complete and includes blades with etchings of Queen Victoria, Chatsworth House and the White House to name but a few. Both models are exhibited today in Sheffield. Around 1860 new, even more spectacular exhibition rooms were built and people came from all over the world to admire outstanding examples of Rodger’s craftsmanship. Among the visitors of the late 1800s were King Edward VII and the Shah of Persia. In the late 1800’s further expansion was required and more plots were acquired in the Norfolk Street area. Rodgers eventually became the largest cutlery factory in Sheffield. Rodger’s products were now exported to growing new markets, in Asia, Africa, America and virtually the rest of the world. America became Rodgers largest export market and it is said that it was

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a Rodgers hunting knife that General Custer had given to Buffalo Bill as a gift and which Buffalo Bill used in his duel with Sitting Bull. Rodgers focused on producing the best quality knives and sought the best in every aspect of knife production, from materials to workmanship. Each knife was branded with the star and the cross as a guarantee of its excellent quality. In 1897 a Rodgers, Maurice George, became Master Cutler. He suffers the dubious honor of being one of the few masters to die in office. Joseph Rodgers’ success is reflected in the the fact that he was appointed by five successive rulers, George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria, Edward II, and George V. Despite royal recognition and overseas trade, the company could not escape the decline of the Sheffield cutlery industry. The company went through a turbulent period in the late 1900s. There have been a number of changes in the ownership structure. The company was even merged with its once tough competitor Georg Wostenholm in 1971. The Egginton Group bought the rights to the name and brands in 1986, which meant that the fine Joseph Rodgers knives would continue to be produced in Sheffield, the home of cutlery.

196 Gadget cane with sextant Shaft: wooden Handle: silver with cover that can be opened up Collar (transition of handle to shaft): probably brass Probably end of 19th century Length: 92 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The silver handle can be unscrewed. The sextant becomes visible when the cover is opened up.

Sextant A sextant is a nautical, optical measuring instrument with which you can determine the angle between the directions of view to relatively distant objects, in particular the angular distance of a celestial body from the horizon. It is mainly used to measure the elevation angle of the sun and stars for astronomical navigation at sea, less frequently also in aviation, and earlier in expeditions, astronomy and land surveying. The name sextant comes from the device frame, which represents a circle sector of about 60° (one sixth of a circle), which, due to the law of mirrors, allows angle measurements to be made at twice the scale, in other words, up to 120°.

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197 Gadget cane for notaries Shaft: snakewood Round hook handle: red gold, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1880 Length: 91.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the golden round hook handle, you can remove a red-gold pen from the cavity. Depending on your needs, it is possible to twist a pencil out of this pen or to push out an fountain pen nib. On the round handle the monogram of the original owner is recognizable, EM or ME. This gadget cane is extremely elegant and was made of very exclusive and expensive materials.

198 Gadget cane with writing set Shaft: wood, can be dismantled into four parts Round handle: copper, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1900 Length: 86.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the handle and also the four shaft parts you get a complete writing set. This included a small inkwell, quill, pencil, and eraser. These canes were often used by scribes, notaries and travellers.

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199 Gadget cane with signet Shaft: ebony, brown-black Round handle: bone, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, blackened and iron tip Around 1890 Length: 89.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the round bone handle from the shaft, the handle can be unscrewed further. Thus a signet can be assembled. The handle serves as the signet handle as well. The signet shows a count’s nine-pointed crown and a monogram VM decorated with rocailles (shell-shaped ornaments).

Signets A signet is a stamp made of a hard material that is suitable for pressing a seal into a sealing compound (sealing wax etc.). In former times, it was the job of a separate profession to produce such devices. Equipped with a handle, a signet is also called a signet stamp. Signets are different than usual (seal) stamps for paper, which carry the seal on a rubber-like surface that is wetted with ink using an ink pad. Such a stamp is then pressed onto the paper, leaving behind an image of the seal. Such stamping can be used to seal a document and thus guarantee its authenticity (ultimately because of the recognized position of the person who does the sealing). However, wax seals, in particular, have been and are still often used for sealing to prevent unauthorized opening of confidential documents (letters, documents). You do not use an ink pad with a signet. Today, signets are mainly used in areas with a high level of confidentiality, especially in the military sector.

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200 Gadget cane with writing set Shaft: wood, light brown Handle: wood, light brown, pear-shaped Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel-plated Around 1900, England Length: 90.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

As soon as you remove the handle from the wooden shaft a pencil becomes visible. The lead of this pencil goes through the entire wooden shaft. This gadget cane is an English souvenir cane. Signature: G. Brighton

Gadget canes with writing utensils Among the many canes mentioned in the inventory of Henry VIII, there are several that contain writing and drawing utensils. There is an ivory writing set from the 18th century which is contained in a cane that is part of the estate of Prince Karl Theodor (1743–1794). Among the canes of the kings of Sweden and Denmark there are several that contain numerous pencils and pens in the style and materials that were in fashion in the 18th century. In the 19th century before the introduction of the ink fountain pen, writing with a pencil was a problem when you were not at a desk. Small writing stands with their various utensils were common for travelling. But even if you were only away for a day, it was very practical to have all your writing, drawing or even painting materials at hand. One of the most popular canes contained a pencil, a quill, a small inkwell and eraser. In France this cane is also called notary cane. The first versions must be considered canes used by people whose professions made it necessary to use pen and ink. These canes are solidly built. Since the beginning of the 1850s, various canes with a combination of pencil, pen and inkwell of average design were often sold as souvenirs at events or exhibitions. Later they were embellished with a microscopic photo in a small hole in the handle. The first pens were not of the quality we know today and stained hands, pockets and bags. A recess in the handle of the cane was the ideal place to have a pen at hand when needed. It is known that among the many canes of Dali, one contains charcoal.

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201 Gadget cane with writing set Shaft: ivory with Cyrillic script Handle: silver, depiction of a horse’s head with gilded female legs on the side and a playing card Nine of Spades Ferrule (lower end of the cane): buffalo horn, dark Around 1900, Russia Length: 92.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you remove the bottom quarter of the cane, a silver pencil becomes visible. You could use it to fill in and sign bills of exchange, cheques or betting slips. This is a typical dandy cane of the Belle Epoque. Russian hallmark: 84 KA. At the turn of the century (1900) the revolutionary new taste we call Art Nouveau permeated every area of life. All art, from architecture to interior decoration and everyday objects, was given a uniform appearance. Art Nouveau is mainly based on flowing lines, twisted forms and a calligraphic elegance inspired by the plant world. Art Nouveau was also found in exquisite and imaginative handles. During this time a cane was part of a man’s clothing just as much as shoes, a hat and a belt. The sidewalks were filled with people carrying a cane. It thus became an important object of urban as well as rural life in the whole Western world.

202 Gadget cane with writing set Shaft: bamboo, dark brown with removable pencil, set in silver and gold-plated collar Round hook handle: bamboo Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver, gold plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Manufacturer: Thomas Brigg & Sons, London Around 1921, England Length: 94.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

These canes were often used to fill out the betting slips at dog or horse races. According to the engraving on the collar, the original owner of this gadget cane was Bob Thomas Whites. English hallmark, manufacturer Brigg London 1921.

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203 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: partridge (wood), alternately diagonally stepped Ball handle: rosewood (wood) Collar (transition from handle to shaft): metal with snap fastener Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, nickel-plated Around 1890 Length: 88.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the collar button is pressed, a human skull carved from ivory rises from the handle. It has fearsome silver eyes. The rosewood cover of the handle now sits on the skull like a student cap. Typical strolling cane of a wealthy medical student to attract attention.

Automatic mechanism cane with monkey head It is interesting to look for the origin of the model, because there was often a hidden meaning behind it. The skull, for example, that opens its jaws and sometimes even has eyes and a tongue to better pass on its message. These canes were the companions of medical students for a long time. They certainly had to get rid of such canes after they received their license to practice medicine and visited patients.

204 Gadget cane with mortification utensils Shaft: ebony with carved out thorns Massive, angled handle: ivory, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): ivory Tip (lower end of the cane): ivory Around 1900 Length: 91.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the end of the handle is unscrewed, a purple, padded cavity becomes visible. It contains a rosary with 59 milky white glass beads, a heart-shaped medallion with the representation of Jesus and Mary and a cross with the representation of the suffering Jesus. The back of the cross carries the note: SOUVENIR DE MISS(ION). If you unscrew the angle handle from the shaft, another purple padded cavity becomes visible. It contains a three-tailed scourge with a thorny ivory handle and three five-pointed thorny balls at the end of the scourge chains.

Mortification Mortification or self-mortification (from ecclesiastical Latin mortificare, kill, subdue) refers to voluntary privations and suffering for the sake of a higher good.

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205 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: wood, dark brown speckled Handle: wood, carved in the shape of a blue-eyed man with a curved moustache and pointed chin beard and a tight-fitting hood with red forehead feather Collar (transition from handle to shaft): sterling silver and banderoles of the same material Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1900 Length: 91.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the button at the back of the head is pressed, the nobleman turns his blue eyes upwards until red eyes suddenly appear. In addition, it stretches its red tongue far out of the opened mouth. Thus the blue-eyed nobleman becomes a red- eyed devil.

Gadget canes with automatic mechanism There is no civilization that has not tried to breathe life into its gods of stone or wood in the form of a statue or a mask, through movement. This is something that has always fascinated people, and if you look at a collection of automatic mechanisms today, this can certainly be observed. At that time, people knew neither photography nor cinema, let alone television. Automatic mechanism (without music) on the one hand and the music boxes on the other, as well as the combination of the two, became an important form of entertainment in the 19th century. They were only displaced by radio and cinema. Thus, we find handles in the form of heads that roll their eyes, stick out their tongue, or move their ears by means of a push button. It is interesting to look for the origin of the model, because there was often a hidden meaning behind it. The oldest, which we also know from many table-top vending machines, is in fact the monkey’s head. A subtle allusion to the vanity of man. And since these monkey heads were to stick out their tongues, their meaning is even clearer. Different handle designs had different meanings. The skull, for example, that opens its jaws and sometimes even has eyes and a tongue to better pass on its message. These canes were the companions of medical students for a long time. They certainly had to get rid of such canes after they received their license to practice medicine and visited patients. Canes with heads of figures or animals sticking out their tongues could be considered very daring at a time when sticking out the tongue was considered very ugly. The cane for a gallant gentleman was more amusing. He was sitting on the terrace of a Parisian coffee shop and kept an eye on the pretty women at the neighboring tables. In order to be able to convey his intentions more discreetly, he held a cane with a handle that represented a human face with a winking eye. The heads with animated animals served exclusively for entertainment and had no deeper meaning. They were more related to toys and were intended to entertain children. Very nice pieces, completely worked in ivory, were sold by Brigg, London, among others.

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206 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism as glove holder Shaft: Malacca (wood), genuine, light-colored Handle: ivory, carved in the shape of a dog’s head with lower jaw that can be opened Collar, (transition from handle to shaft) silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): silver and metal tip Around 1890 Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can open the muzzle of the dog’s head by pulling down the lower jaw. You can clamp a glove in it. Typical expressive glove holder made of high-quality materials.

207 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism as glove holder Shaft: Malacca (wood), semi-fast with round eyelets and dark brown silk tassel looped through it Handle: wood, carved in the shape of a dog’s head (pug) Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Tip (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1890, presumably France Length: 96.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you press on the lower jaw of the pug’s head, it opens its muzzle and also turns both its ears to the side. Due to the spring mechanism, the snapping muzzle is very well suited to hold a glove in it. This was especially practical when you wanted to shake hands to greet another person and had to take off your glove to do so. French hallmark with the manufacturer’s initials M&F , as well as the additional initials RR.

208 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: bamboo, dark brown with toggle lever Handle: tin cast, nickel-plated in the shape of a monkey’s head Collar (transition from handle to shaft): metal Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1900, probably France Length: 88.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling down the toggle lever, the monkey opens its red snout with muzzle. At the same time, it rolls his yellow glass eyes downwards, so that the red colored eyelids come out. This leads to a likeable expression and was ideal for cheering up children. There is a reference to a French patent on the back of the head with the words DÉPOSÉ.

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209 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: mahogany (wood), reddish brown Handle: ivory, carved in the shape of a monkey’s head with beard, jockey cap and shirt Collar (transition handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated with push button Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1890 Length: 91.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you press the button on the collar, the monkey opens its mouth and sticks out its red tongue. In addition, he rolls his brown eyes upwards until frightening green eyes appear.

Automatic mechanism cane with monkey head It is interesting to look for the origin of the model, because there was often a hidden meaning behind it. The oldest, which we also know from many table-top vending machines, is in fact the monkey’s head. A subtle allusion to the vanity of man. And since these monkey heads were to stick out their tongues, their meaning is even clearer. Canes with heads of figures or animals sticking out their tongues could be considered very daring at a time when sticking out the tongue was considered very ugly.

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210 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: partridge (wood), diagonally stepped Handle: aluminum in the shape of a donkey’s head with hinged ears Collar (transition from handle to shaft): gold-plated with push button Ferrule (lower end of cane): brass and iron tip Manufacturer: Thomas Brigg & Sons, London (England) Around 1880, England Length: 85.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you press the button on the collar, the donkey opens its mouth and shows its teeth and red tongue. It also puts up both its ears. However, the right ear is intentionally left at a slight angle. Collar hallmark of the manufacturer: BRIGG LONDON.

Thomas Brigg & Sons, London Thomas Brigg & Sons was probably founded in 1836 and conducted its business in St. James's Street, London. The company produced umbrellas and canes. An insurance file from 1809 provides early evidence that Charles Brigg was a plumassier or feather-maker, working as a manufacturer and supplier of feathers for the military. In 1828 Charles Briggs’ son, Thomas Edward, opened his own branch at 23 St. James's Street in London. An advertisement in the Morning Post of 21 May 1828 shows that he had added the sale and repair of parasols to his business. In 1852, the company was operating under the name Thomas Brigg & Sohn. This suggests that Thomas’ son Edward had joined the family business. When Edward’s brother (another Thomas) entered into a partnership with him, the company began trading as Thomas Brigg & Sons. In 1861, the company had five employees. In 1879, the silversmith Charles Henry Dumenil (1853–1921) registered his brand CD with the Goldsmith Company. Together with William Henry Brigg he patented improvements in the combination of pencils and the like with walking canes and the like in 1894. As early as 1881,Thomas Brigg Jr. already had fifteen employees. In December 1884, Thomas Brigg & Sons received recognition as an umbrella manufacturer from Queen Victoria. In 1899 the company expanded to the continental market. They opened an exhibition space at 33 Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris. This establishment acquired other royal patrons, among them the King and Queen of Spain. By 1914, there were approved sales outlets for Brigg umbrellas in Barcelona, Berlin, Biarritz, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Florence, Madrid, Naples, Nice, Palermo, Rome, and Vienna. In 1919, the company bought the goodwill and shares of the French parasol manufacturer, Bétaille, in the rue Royale in Paris. In 1931, Bertie and Guy Brigg converted the company into a public company, and five years later, they launched the ultra-flat Centenary umbrella. One Brigg umbrella was to become world famous. It was Neville Chamberlain’s black silk umbrella, which he took with him to Munich in September 1938 for talks with Adolf Hitler and to Rome in January 1939 to visit Benito Mussolini. The newspapers saw a symbol of hope in this umbrella. In July 1939, Life magazine spoke of an umbrella of appeasement. Hitler, angry with the participants of the Munich conference, ranted about the

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so-called umbrella politicians. It was a sad irony that the war broke out only months after Chamberlain's attempt to avert it, and that soon afterwards, in 1940, the Thomas Brigg & Sons company lost its Paris showroom to the German occupiers of France. In February 1943 the company merged with Swaine & Adeney to form Swaine, Adeney, Brigg & Sons Ltd. The merger was supervised by Bertie Brigg. Brigg’s gave up their store in St. James’s Street but kept their canes and umbrellas factory in Newbury Street, City of London.

Brigg's umbrellas and canes At a relatively early stage Brigg decided on the path of individualized umbrella production and purchased the frame components from Fox Umbrella Frames Ltd. but used their own shafts, handles, sleeves, sliders and rib tips, not to mention the covers. The company quickly added high-quality walking canes to its umbrella range. Daytime walking canes were light and made of wood, bamboo or cane with handles ranging from discreet to frivolous, with animal heads being very popular. The style and workmanship of some handles suggest that the Czilinsky family of ivory and wood carvers may well have received commissions from Brigg as well as from Swaine & Adeney. For evening dress, the handles were made of ebonized hardwood or exotic materials such as tortoiseshell. The handles could be made of gold, crystal or set with jewels. Silversmiths, wood and ivory carvers and turners were commissioned with luxury handles for canes. Brigg joined the late Victorian and Edwardian enthusiasm for gadget canes and umbrellas with concealed pencils, atomizers and other tricks. Silversmith Charles Henry Dumenil was a leading exponent of such objects and a major supplier of brackets for the company. Other silversmiths who supplied mounts included Charles Cooke of Frith Street, Soho, James Damant of City Road and Thomas Johnson.

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211 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism as glove holder Shaft: partridge (wood) Handle: silver in the shape of a duck Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Around 1890, probably China Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you press the silver button at the back of the duck’s head, it opens its gilded beak and reveals its finely serrated teeth. A spring makes the beak snap shut and is suitable for holding on to fine ladies’ gloves. These canes were very practical, because you had to take off your glove to greet the another person in front of you. Chinese hallmark with the silversmith initials WS.

Gloves from the end of the 19th century From the end of the 19th century, a lady without gloves was not properly dressed. Men likewise always wore gloves and carried a cane. It was not proper to take off gloves using your the teeth, nor was it proper to shake hands with gloves on, or to grasp something with a gloved hand. The gloves were taken off for eating and playing cards. Ladies were not allowed to take off their evening gloves during a ball under any circumstances. In case the gloves were damaged, a pair of spare gloves were taken along. Nor was it proper to put on the gloves in public. Rings were worn over the gloves, which made taking them off more cumbersome. However, gentlemen often just held the gloves in their hands. In the 19th century there was a rule that a true gentleman would change his gloves six times a day. The ladies put on fresh gloves several times a day as well.

212 Gadget cane with automatic mechanism Shaft: partridge (wood), stepped at an angle, can be disassembled Handle: ivory in the shape of a cockatoo head with yellow feather bonnet and dark brown painted beak. Collar (transition from handle to shaft): gold-plated with snap fastener Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Manufacturer: probably Thomas Brigg & Sons, London (England) Around 1890, England Length: 90.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the button on the collar is pressed, the yellow-crested cockatoo raises its imposing head feathers and opens its beak to reveal its tongue. In addition, a brass thread allows the upper third of the shaft to be easily unscrewed from the lower smooth shaft. In this way this delicate cane could be stored in a suitcase for travelling. These so-called novelty canes were very expensive. They cost between thirty and forty pounds, which was a lot of money for that time. It can be assumed that these expensive canes were bought to attract the attention of a lady. It could be used to flirt.

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213 Gadget cane with repair set Shaft: brass Handle: brass Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1900, probably France Length: 90.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

This gadget cane includes a complete repair kit for bicycles. You can unscrew the shaft into three parts. The lower part can be used as an air pump. The other two shaft parts contain repair utensils such as tire levers, patches, etc. This gadget cane was used by the railway employees of the French state railway SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français).

214 Gadget cane with screwdriver set Shaft: ebony Ball handle: ivory, faceted Collar (transition handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1892, probably England Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By turning and pulling the spherical ivory handle you can pull a brass part out of the shaft. If you press the button on the side of the brass part, you can push the four-piece screwdriver set out of the sleeve. The screwdriver set bears the inscriptions: The Billings and Spencer Co Hartford Conn and Billings Patent March 15. 1892.

Billings & Spencer Billings & Spencer began in 1869 as the Roper Sporting Arms Company, a partnership of Charles E. Billings and Christopher Spencer. Both founders were famous inventors, and Billings in particular was one of the pioneers of drop forging. The first products of the company were drop forged parts for the weapon and sewing machine industry. The company was restructured in 1873 as the Billings & Spencer Company, and shortly thereafter began manufacturing wrenches and other tools. Some products were based on designs developed and patented by Charles E. Billings. The company also licensed designs of other inventors. Adjustable wrenches were a particular specialty of Billings in the second half of the 19th century. The company also produced many different types of smaller bicycle wrenches , pipe wrenches and pliers, tongs and fixed wrenches. By the beginning of the 20th century Billings & Spencer had become one of the largest tool manufacturers. The company manufactured the heavy machines for drop forging itself and supported other companies in setting up their drop forging facilities.

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215 Gadget cane for cork oak merchants Shaft: cork oak (wood) imitating an umbrella Handle: buckhorn, angled, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): iron Ferrule (lower end of the cane): Brass and iron tip Around 1860 Length: 89.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the staghorn handle, a 50.5 cm long wood drill attached to the handle can be pulled out of the shaft. With this wood drill you can check which cork oak trunks are ripe or thick enough and therefore suitable for cork production. Such a test was not allowed to all those interested in cork oaks. Therefore this wood drill was hidden in a cane imitating an umbrella or parasol.

216 Gadget cane for auctioneer or judge Shaft: wood, dark brown Handle: wood, dew-shaped, cylindrical, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): bronze Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, black Around 1900 Length: 90.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the dew-shaped wooden handle is unscrewed, an auctioneer’s or judge’s hammer can be taken out of the shaft. The handle serves as the hammer part.

217 Gadget cane for diamond merchants Shaft: wood, painted black Fritz handle: wood, painted black in the middle with four-leaf mother-of-pearl leaves embedded on both sides, hinged Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, covered with leather, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1880 Length: 89.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you pull out the brass tweezers from the end of the handle, the handle cover can be pushed backwards. Inside is an inlaid Roman beam balance with carat weights. By further unscrewing the collar, an extendable monocular for the examination of gemstones can be removed. If you fold up the felt lid, you can also pour out 24 cut glass false diamonds from the hollow shaft. The cavity is padded with felt to protect the precious real stones accordingly. This is a typical cane for a diamond merchant. He was able to weigh the gemstones, check the cut quality and purity.

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218 Gadget cane for a captain Shaft: narwhal tooth Handle: Boxwood (wood), unscrewable Tip (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1800 Length: 82.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

This is a typical gadget cane for a captain. If you unscrew the handle you can take out tweezers and toothpicks from the hollow shaft.

Narwhal tooth Since the Middle Ages, narwhal teeth have had strong symbolism attached to them: They were associated with the legendary unicorn, which according to tradition could only be tamed by a virgin. The dazzling white appearance of this fabulous animal was associated with concepts such as purity and beauty. The combination of unicorn and virgin was related to the incarnation of the Son of God in the womb of Mary. Consequently, narwhal teeth, whose zoological origin remained unknown for a long time, were coveted possessions. They gained a special place among the intensively collected marvels of nature, especially since such teeth ground into powder were attributed a special protective effect against poison attacks and plague epidemics. Only in 1638, the Danish scholar Ole Worm (1588–1654) proved that these were the tusks of the male narwhal. Regardless of this demythologization, narwhal teeth remained a popular collector’s item.

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219 Tree/plant hunter cane Shaft: brass tube, separates into three parts Handle: brass covered with paper, green flecked, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1880 Length: 94 cm Lender: private collection from the region

This plant hunter cane contains small tools that could be screwed to the tip of the cane. There’s a hand saw and a small shovel. There are also twelve small glass vials with labels for marking seed samples. A larger compartment for seedlings or small plants is also hidden in the shaft. Plant hunters inspired the people of the 17th to 19th centuries. As companions (rarely women) of the great seafarers, the plant hunters have documented and made drawing of exotic plants and strange animals. If possible, they collected seeds, fruits or even small plants or trees. They often gave botanical names to the new discoveries and added their own name at the end. The Douglas fir, the Forrest snakebark maple, the wellingtonia (giant sequoia) and many other plant names immortalize the explorers forever. The excursions into the forests and to the natives were dangerous, many of the tree hunters died of injuries or diseases. The fascination of adventure in foreign lands remained, however, and was for many a dream or a dream job. With a plant hunter's cane, you could practice plant collecting at home on the local field in safety.

220 Gadget cane for geologists Shaft: wood, brown Round handle: horn Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel and iron tip Around 1920 Length: 94.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can turn the handle and pull it out. A ground drill with a 70 cm scale is revealed. The roundish drill with lateral slit opening can be turned into the soil to take a soil sample. In this way, you can determine the nature of the various soil layers.

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221 Gadget cane with combination utensils Shaft: ivory, in three segments, screw-on Two fritz crutch handles to choose: ivory, once with corkscrew and once with square key Manufacturer: Joseph Rodgers & Sons, Sheffield (England) Around 1890, England Length: 90 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The ivory shaft can be unscrewed into three segments. In addition, there is a choice of two ivory handles, one with a corkscrew and one with a square key.

Joseph Rodgers & Sons, Sheffield The company was founded in 1724 by John Rodgers. John’s three sons John, Joseph and Maurice later joined the family business, which expanded rapidly. In the 1780s, the family moved into a block of workshops that would become their most famous address, 6 Norfolk Street. In 1800, Joseph and Maurice formally dissolved their partnership and the company was renamed Joseph Rodgers & Sons. Not only did the company produce an unrivalled range of pen and pocket knives, but it also became famous for its representative cutlery, which demonstrated the skill of the cutlers working for it. There were very few exhibition or sales rooms in Sheffield where visitors could view and buy goods in a plush environment. The first visitors were not even aware that the goods in the cupboards were for sale, the idea was so strange. Joseph Rodgers had a reputation for producing the best quality items in Sheffield. While he continued to produce high quality products, the late Victorian period was a difficult time for the company. By 1929 they had sold the establishment at No. 6 Norfolk Street and suffered losses during the Great Depression. The company had been reduced from a workforce of 1500 in 1914 to 325 employees in 1961. The company ceased its business activities in 1983.

222 Gadget cane with lactometer Shaft: wooden Round handle: wood, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the handle, a glass lactometer can be taken out of the shaft. The fat content of milk was tested with the aid of this volumetric flask. This enabled cheesemakers to test whether their milk suppliers had diluted the milk with water. This test is still carried out in the dairies today. The normal fat content of cow’s milk is 3.5 –5 %.

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223 Gadget cane for coffee and cacao merchants Shaft: bamboo cane, flamed Handle: brass, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1880 Length: 92.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The brass handle can be unscrewed and a 62.7 cm long brass sewing needle with hemp cord thread is stored in the shaft. The coffee or cacao merchant could close up the opened bags again with this long sewing needle. This was usual to be able to check the quality of the delivered product.

224 Gadget cane for coffee and cacao merchants Shaft: brass Straight handle: aluminum, formerly black-coated Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass tip, conical (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1900 Length: 90.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can turn the brass shaft and three compartments, each 11 cm long, will open. This allows you to take three samples from a filled coffee or grain bag. This is done to check the quality of the product. Once the samples have been taken, the brass shaft is turned again and the three compartments will close. So you can easily pull out the shaft with the samples.

225 Gadget cane for tailors Shaft: wood with pincushions fixed by two ivory collars with numerous colored pins. A measuring scale showing no numbers and with the corresponding, hinged, adjustable and screwable ivory angle is embedded in the subsequent square wooden shaft. The square wooden shaft tapers off at the end. Handle: ivory, conical, turned Tip (lower end of the cane): ivory, octagonal Manufacturer: Siegel & Hommev Around 1860 Length: 88.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unfolding and locking the fold-out ivory angle, the perfect tailor’s cane is created for pinning leg garments and skirt hems. The pincushion attached to the cane was particularly helpful for this purpose. Manufacturer according to the engraving on the locking screw was SIEGEL & HOMMEV.

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226 Gadget cane as fence tester Shaft: hazel wood, in the upper part a small nickel medallion with the representation of a cow with glass eyes Round hook handle: hazel wood Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1969 Length: 95 cm Lender: private collection from the region

With the small metal hook under the cow’s head you hook the electric fence wire and insert the tip of the cane into the ground to ground it. If the cow’s eyes light up red, there is electricity on the line and you have to be careful. Very simple current test without danger of electrocuting yourself. In addition, the test is carried out absolutely effortlessly and without having to bend down.

227 Seat cane Shaft: iron, painted red Round handle: iron, painted red 1958 Length: 90 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A three-legged chair is created by folding out the circular seat. The logo of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair is painted in green on the seat. This fair seat was available in the colors blue and green as well. Such seats were simple and easy to carry. If necessary, you could open this seat cane on the exhibition grounds and rest for a while. Such memorial canes were very popular as souvenirs at many large fairs. These were often sold together with the attached admission ticket.

Brussels World’s Fair 1958 Expo 58 was the world exhibition that took place in the Belgian capital of Brussels from 17 April to 19 October 1958. The official motto was Technology in the service of mankind. Progress of mankind through progress in technology. In keeping with this, the two new future technologies of space travel and nuclear power were presented to a broad public for the first time. It was the first world exhibition after the end of the Second World War. The exhibition was primarily a showcase for the Belgian industry. The exhibition was shaped by the rivalry between the Western powers of the time and the Eastern Bloc. Both sides tried to present their own countries as more progressive at different levels.

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228 Seat cane by Thonet Shaft: beech wood, dark brown, stained Round handle: wood Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass with a circular, fold- out 23 cm diameter seat made of wickerwork and two S-shaped legs. Manufacturer: Thonet Brothers, Vienna (Austria) Around 1910, Austria Length: 87.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By folding out the circular seat, a three-legged chair with a seat height of 52 cm is created. Such seats were simple and easy to carry around and very popular on occasions such as cricket, golf, horse racing, Sunday walks and the like. They were mainly exported to England.

Wickerwork The wickerwork is also called octagonal or Vienna wickerwork. The material comes from the Asian rattan palm, from which the outer skin is cut into strips. A distinction is made between three different versions: drawn through, pinned or pressed in.

Thonet Brothers, Vienna Michael Thonet (1796 –1871) and his five sons were the most successful furniture manufacturers of the industrial age. At the invitation of the Austrian chancellor Metternich, who had seen his products at the exhibition of the Verein der Kunstfreunde Koblenz (Association of Art Friends Koblenz) and suggested that he develop his patent in Austria, Thonet left Boppard am Rhein, Germany, in 1842 to settle in Vienna. In 1853 he founded the company Gebrüder Thonet together with his five sons. Thonet had found a method of bending glued veneers into shapes in almost any curvature with the help of hot glue. He did this mainly for the rod-shaped backrests of his chairs, which are known as Viennese coffee house chairs and are still produced today. Seat canes and cane chairs manufactured by Thonet are the most aesthetically beautiful and comfortable of this type.

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229 Seat cane Shaft: oak wood, stained, with attached triangular seat made of leather and textile embroidery and two swivel chair legs Angled handle: ivory with a carved hunting scene Around 1890 Length: 91.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The angled ivory handle shows a very detailed and beautifully carved hunting scene. It consists of a deer bust, rifle, powder horn, hunting horn, boar spear (spear for hunting wild boars) and killed animals. The seat contains a textile embroidery depicting a running hunting dog in the forest. Unscrewing the attached chair legs with the triangular seat creates a three-legged chair which was popular to take along on the hunt and could be unfolded in the rough terrain and at the fire. This seat must have belonged to a wealthy hunter and stands out from the simpler models due to its elaborate workmanship. The seat height is 45 cm.

230 Seat cane Shaft: oak wood in three parts folds out with three brass lock nuts. The triangular seat area is wrapped around the shaft and fixed with a red band Round handle: oak wood, black varnished Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron with forged iron tip Around 1875 Length: 87.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The black round handle can be removed by turning. After loosening the three locking nuts, the two chair legs can be unscrewed from the shaft. Together with the textile seat, a three- legged chair with a seat height of 50 cm is created.

Seat canes Numerous seat canes were presented at the world exhibition in London in 1851, many of them from Austria. At that time, the first three-legged seats were often offered to the ladies in London department stores when they had to wait at the counter or at the checkout. An employee with a frock coat was even specially assigned to this task. In the 19th century, seat canes were recommended for trips to parks, large exhibitions or parades. It was the ideal companion for getting outside to enjoy the fresh air and thus became extremely popular especially in Great Britain. It is one of the few canes that can still be found in specialist shops today.

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231 Seat cane Shaft: double shaft, wood split Handle: wood, stained brown, varnished and foldable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): copper wire Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, nickel-plated with 14.5 cm long tip. Iron ferrule with central unscrewable iron disc. About 1880 Length: 89.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By folding out the two halves of the handle, a board-like seat with a height of 71.5 cm is created, provided that the ferrule is drilled into the ground up to the iron plate. These canes were usually taken along on bird hunts in order to have a support when observing, waiting and firing. Depending on the soil conditions, the plate-shaped stop could be screwed on or off the ferrule to prevent it from sinking into soft soil. A patent notice is engraved on the brass hinge along with the barely legible initials RM of the former owner. At a later date this was supplemented with the letter P.

232 Seat cane Shaft: wooden Handle: metal with wooden inserts, can be folded out Collar (transition from handle to shaft): iron with fold-out legs and removable end piece held by a leather strap. Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass ferrule with iron tip Around 1900 Length: 87.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unfolding the two halves of the handle, a rung-shaped, oval seat with a height of 71.5 cm or 46 cm is created when the end piece is removed and the three legs are unfolded. This allows the cane to be used for two functions. On the one hand as a seating support during the hunt and as a stool during breaks.

233 Seat cane Handle: round, aluminum, can be unfolded and pulled out on two-piece iron tube. All painted with brown trompe-l’oeil lacquer as wood imitation. Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron tip, pointed Around 1900 Length: 89.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you pull out the round hook, it can be folded out into two round halves. In this way an oval seating surface is created. The shaft can be divided into two halves and these can then be inserted into the oval seat. The tube on the oval seat creates a three- legged stool with a seat height of 44 cm. This seat cane is ideal for taking a seated break on hard ground when travelling.

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234 Seat cane Shaft: Metal with trompe-l’oeil painting Handle: Round horn hook Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): wood with rubber tip Around 1900, probably France Length: 87.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you unscrew the horn handle, you can pull an umbrella- like hinged nickel-plated metal construction out of the metal tube on a chain with ring. Now the round stool with three legs and eight struts and a seat area of 27.7 cm diameter can be set up. Everything is held together by a chain. The seat was often upholstered with a jacket, gloves or a scarf. In this way the seating became a little more pleasant and comfortable. Signed with patent reference: BREVETE S.G D.G. BF

Breveté S.G.D.G. Breveté S.G.D.G. is the designation for a patent as it was valid in France until 1968. The term stands for Breveté Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement and means translated: Patent without government guarantee. Many countries maintained a system of registration after a simple formal examination for many years. They were considered free from any liability. For example, in France, the law of 1844 provides that patents are issued without prior examination, at the risk and peril of the applicants and without any guarantee of function, innovation or merit for the invention, including the precision or accuracy of the description .

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235 Gadget cane for carnival Shaft: wood Handle: horn, ivory, carved, wagon head, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1960 Length: 96.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle with the carved waggis head can be unscrewed and a corkscrew is revealed.

The waggis The waggis is a traditional figure of the Basel carnival with an imposing mask representing an Alsatian day laborer and is also known as a swearword for people from Alsace and Lorraine. The waggis wears a blue shirt, white trousers, a red foulard (neckerchief), an oversized white shirt collar, (too) large zoggeli (clogs) and sometimes a pointed cap (which is put on when the mask is not worn). In the classic version, the mask has blond hair made of yellow bast. Traditional accessories are the rosette (cockade) in the colors of the French tricolor (blue-white-red) as well as a shopping net with vegetables, ideally also a huge leg bone or comparable wooden truncheon. The traditional red nose indicates the excessive consumption of wine by the satirized subjects. The nose, which was originally slightly enlarged just for emphasis, has in the meantime become a monstrous structure, just as the mask itself has become larger and larger over time. The waggis is a coarse overall look and as such is more likely to be carried by wagon cliques and by individual masks bearers. The waggis is also popular as a mask among children. However, it is an unusual choice for drummers and whistlers.

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236 Gadget cane with corkscrew Shaft: wood Handle: cast iron with four male faces Collar (transition from handle to shaft): probably metal Probably beginning of 20th century Length: 92 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the handle decorated with the four male faces. A corkscrew is attached to the handle, which is in the shaft when closed. This head with the four facial expressions represents different basic human moods: joy, contentment, sadness and anger. The mood of the day can be expressed with the head, for example by turning the joyful expression forward, and all friends, colleagues or family members know what mood you are in.

A gadget cane was an indispensable accessory in the 19th century. It was also the golden age for canes. There was a lot of interest in technology and research into new and ingenious processes during this century. The gadget cane thus became an indispensable accessory that was carried depending on the time of day and circumstances and had to be changed during the course of same day. Just like hats for women, canes became an important addition to men’s attire.

237 Drinking cane Shaft: Bamboo, dark brown Round handle: brass, nickel-plated, removable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip Around 1900, Germany Length: 88 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you press the button on the handle, the lid opens and the drinking glass inside becomes visible. In addition, the entire handle can be removed from the shaft by turning the bayonet lock. This allows access to the bottle of schnapps in the hollow shaft with cork stopper. Engraving on the handle: Patent 22248 Made in Germany.

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238 Drinking cane or Toulouse-Lautrec cane Shaft: wood, painted, can be dismantled into three segments with screw connections in copper, nickel-plated Handle: copper, nickel-plated, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1900 Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the three segments, you can remove two small glasses with a foot and a glass container with a cork stopper and a small nickel knob.

Drinking cane The first drinking cane was patented by a Mister Martin and was shown at the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations . Since there were no dining cars at that time, he had intended it for train passengers so that they could quench their thirst while travelling. But it was another group of users who made the drinking cane successful. One of these representatives was the famous painter Henri de Toulouse- Lautrec. Alcohol enthusiasts always carried such a drinking cane with them. For this reason the drinking cane is also called Toulouse Lautrec in France. The master’s cane held half a liter of his favorite drink green fairy (absinthe) can be seen in the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France. Countless such canes with bottle and glass were produced in the period from 1870 to 1914. Most of them were very poorly made. There are also rare pieces made of precious wood, with cut glass and silver handle. Gentlemen leaned on such canes when they flirted with the girls from the ballet backstage and drank a glass of cognac. The second big wave of these canes was created in the 1920s in Europe for America because alcohol was generally prohibited during the Prohibition. Drinking canes were available in different versions. With one glass container and one drinking glass, with two or three glass containers for different types of brandy, with a glass container and two glasses for drinking with another. Some include an additional flashlight. It was rarely equipped with a whistle as well to warn drinkers in the pubs about the anti-alcohol police. In practice, it is not so easy to drink from such a small glass and pour it later in the evening. The volume of the bottle of approx. 30 ml did not allow for great indulging. Drinking canes are still produced for special occasions or for advertising purposes even today. A drinking cane with a long silver handle was made for the wedding of Lady Di with Prince Charles, which contained glass and bottle inside and the medallion of the couple on the outside.

Absinthe Absinthe is an alcoholic beverage traditionally made from wormwood, anise, fennel, a range of other herbs that vary according to the recipe, and alcohol. Most absinthe brands are green, which is why absinthe is also called The Green Fairy . Absinthe was originally produced in the 18th century for medicinal purposes in Val de Travers in what is now the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. This spirit, which is traditionally drunk mixed with water, became very popular in France in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the famous absinthe drinkers are Charles Baudelaire, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Rimbaud, Aleister Crowley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and

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Oscar Wilde. At the height of its popularity, the drink had a reputation for being addictive and causing serious health problems due to its thujone content. In 1915, the drink was banned in a number of European countries and the USA. Modern studies have not been able to prove any damage caused by absinthe consumption beyond the effects of alcohol. The damage to health observed at that time is now attributed to the poor quality of alcohol and the high quantities of alcohol consumed. Absinthe is available again in most European countries since 1998. The production and sale of absinthe has also been permitted again in Switzerland since 2005.

Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901) Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa was a French painter and graphic artist of post-impressionism in the late 19th century. He became particularly famous for his posters, which he designed for the Parisian vaudeville theatre Moulin Rouge in Montmartre, among others. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec came from an old noble family. In the 19th century, the members of the Toulouse-Lautrec noble family lived in material prosperity on estates in the south of France. In order to counteract a reduction in family property through the division of inheritance, people often married within the kinship. These marriages of relatives and the consequent impoverishment of the gene pool is also the reason for the occurrence of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s hereditary disease. He suffered from pycnodysostosis, an autosomal recessive hereditary disease that is manifested by dwarfism. Its main symptoms appeared around the age of ten. In two accidents, Henri broke both his legs in succession as a 13- and 14-year-old respectively. Due to illness, he did not exceed a height of 1.52 meters as an adult. His artistic talent became increasingly evident during the lengthy rest cures and sanatorium stays associated with his illness. In drawings, the young man mainly depicted people and animals, and sketches that have survived to this day prove that he was not a child prodigy, but he was certainly gifted. He was introduced to the basics of painting by a friend of his father during several stays in Paris. Although Toulouse-Lautrec subjected himself to the rules and customs of academic teaching, he developed his own technique and independent conception of painting from the very beginning, which stood in contrast to the then prevailing art of the Paris Salon. Toulouse-Lautrec turned to alcohol and died at the age of only 36 years on 9 September 1901 in the presence of his parents at his parents’ home, Château Malromé.

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239 Gadget cane for promotion Shaft: oak wood, painted black Handle: silver, cylindrical, unscrewable Collar, (transition from handle to shaft) silver 925, nailed on Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, light-colored Around 1920 Length: 96.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the silver handle and use it as a drinking cup. The hollow shaft contains a glass flacon, which is closed with a cork stopper and filled with whisky. The silver collar bears the embossing: John Haig 1627 Dimple and the Scottish coat of arms and the silversmith initials c.t.b. This cane was used as a promotional gift by the producer or distributor for their whisky sales outlets. This is an allusion to the advertisement of Johnnie Walker , also a big and important whisky producer.

John Haig & Co. Ltd. John Haig (1802 –1878) was a British entrepreneur and founder of the well-known Haig whisky brand. He came from a Scottish family of lesser nobility, the Clan Haig. Many of his ancestors and relatives, both on his father’s and mother’s side, ran whisky distilleries as well. In 1924, he founded the Cameronbridge whisky distillery and John Haig & Co Ltd. The success story of Dimple begins. But it was to take more than four decades until John Haig created a blended Scotch whisky that met his extraordinary expectations. In 1865, he was a founding member of the Scottish Distillers Association, an association of producers of grain whisky, which later became the Distiller Company Ltd (DCL), whose members controlled 75% of the grain whisky production in 1877. After his death his company was gradually taken over by DCL until 1919. The distillery is now part of the Diageo Group.

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240 Gadget cane with water spout Shaft: bamboo, light-colored Handle: bronze in the form of a urinating boy Collar (transition from handle to shaft): bronze Tip (lower end of the cane): horn, light-colored Around 1900 Length: 91.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle with the urinating boy can be unscrewed and thus the tank can be filled with water. If you press the button at the back of the shaft, the boy starts to pee. It is a miniature representation of the famous landmark of Brussels Manneken Pis . The mark on the bonze collar reads Patent and BRUXELLES on the base of the boy figure.

The Manneken Pis The Manneken Pis (little man who urinates), also called le Petit Julien, is a fountain figure of a boy urinating. It is one of the landmarks of the Belgian capital of Brussels. The 61-centimeter high bronze statue was created in 1619 by the Brussels sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy. The motif of the boy passing water as a drollery had been known for centuries in the Duchy of Brabant at that time. The statue of a boy peeing is already documented from the 15th century. The later bronze figure was repeatedly stolen and severely damaged. The present statue is a copy from 1965. A text from 1388 in the archives of the Brussels Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula already mentions a small stone statue called Julianekensborre at a fountain. At that time there were many such wells in Brussels, which supplied the city with drinking water. The name Manneken Pis first appeared around 1450 in texts in the Brussels City Archives. The statue is dressed from time to time. For example, it poses in the jersey of the Belgian national football team at international matches or is dressed up accordingly on the birthdays of Elvis Presley or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. On World AIDS Day, it is fitted with condoms. There are more than 950 different costumes. Maximilian II Emanuel, the then Habsburg governor general of the Spanish Netherlands, began the costuming in 1698.

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241 Gadget cane with water spout Shaft: Malacca (wood), genuine, spotted Handle: silver, unscrewable in the shape of a head of a Chinese man with a movable hair plait tip (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1890 Length: 92.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the silver handle you can fill up a water tank that is embedded in the shaft. With the movable silver hair plait you can get a jet of water squirted out of the Chinese man’s mouth with pumping movements. This cane is a high-quality souvenir cane. It is a humorous allusion to the peculiarity of the Chinese to spit on the floor. This was considered indecent at that time in Europe.

242 Gadget cane with nutcracker Shaft: wooden Handle: wood, carved in the shape of a closed hand Collar (transition from handle to shaft): ivory Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Around 1860, probably France Length: 92.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle in the form of a closed hand holding a nut can be used as a nutcracker. Signed Mer de Glace. This is a typical souvenir cane, which was popular to bring home from a trip.

Mer de Glace The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in France and of the Mont Blanc group and the fourth largest glacier in the Alps. The Mer de Glace (or the system of individual glaciers belonging to it) is approximately 12 km long and varies in width between 700 and 1950 m. The ice has a maximum thickness of 420 m. The flow velocity of this glacier averages 90 m per year, which is a lot for a glacier in the Alps. Ogives are characteristic for the Mer de Glace which alternate between light and dark bands like annual rings across the glacier. The name comes from the two British travellers, Richard Pococke and William Windham, who visited Montenvers in 1741. In 1779 Goethe stepped onto the Mer de Glace near Montenvers and wrote: What dedication to this spectacle of ice! The Mer de Glace has been retreating for 150 years, the glacier is now over two kilometres shorter than it was then. A cable car leads from Montenvers down to the glacier. Its valley station is no longer located directly on the glacier since the ice has retreated. A path leads down hundreds of steps to the glacier (as of 2017: 440 steps). Since the glacier in the Montenvers area loses between four and six meters in height every year, the staircase structure has to be constantly adapted.

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243 Ladies’ gadget cane with nutmeg grater Shaft: Malacca (wood), brown Handle: ivory, turned in the shape of an acorn cone Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1900 Length: 85.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The grooved ivory cover can be unscrewed and an iron grating surface is released. This can also be unscrewed and a nutmeg seed is located underneath, which could be removed. At that time it was popular to grate nutmeg to flavor drinks such as coffee and tea.

244 Picnic gadget cane Shaft: bamboo Handle: bamboo Probably beginning of 20th century Length: 98 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The big handle can be pulled out and divides in the middle. A knife is attached to one half and a fork to the other half.

Picnic gadget canes Seeing cutlery in canes might remind you of pilgrims who found a practical way to carry these important utensils without having to hang bags containing such pointed objects on their canes. At the beginning of the 20th century, when people liked to combine their lunch break with a picnic on the lawn, these canes were extremely popular as well. They certainly owe their great success in no small part to the dandies of that time.

Dandies Dandies cultivate their clothes, their appearance, as well as wit and bon mot. The original, but always fitting, elegant clothing for sports (pastime), combined with the perfect manners of a gentleman, is raised to a life purpose.

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245 Gadget cane for picnic Shaft: wood, brown with numerous branch scars Handle: horn, angled and removable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): boxwood Ferrule (lower end of the cane): copper with tapered iron tip Around 1920 Length: 90.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling off the horn handle, two metal cutlery sets (fork and knife) 16 cm in length can be taken out of the hollow wooden shaft. The handles of the cutlery are covered with buffalo horn.

1920’s picnic Who doesn’t immediately imagine wild parties, glitter and glamour when thinking of the Golden Twenties? But the style of the 20s reaches far beyond Charleston dresses and feather boas. The 20s leisure look, on the other hand, is a bit more casual, although still very elegant and formal, with headgear and gloves completing the women’s look. But nothing beats a well-filled picnic basket. Of course, you had to dine from a high-quality porcelain plate and drink from crystal glasses. A matching picnic blanket, a parasol made of white lace, cushions and fans must not be missing.

246 Gadget cane for picnic Shaft: wood, dark brown, three-part Ball handle: copper, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1910 Length: 91.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the ball handle, you will find birch wood toothpicks in the hollow wooden shaft. In addition, the shaft can be unscrewed into three parts and you get a 24.5 cm long knife and a 20.5 cm long fork. Practical cutlery from a time when plastic cutlery was not yet used on the road. At the turn of the century (1900) the revolutionary new taste we call Art Nouveau permeated every area of life. All art, from architecture to interior decoration and everyday objects, was given a uniform appearance. Art Nouveau is mainly based on flowing lines, twisted forms and a calligraphic elegance inspired by the plant world. Art Nouveau was also found in exquisite and imaginative handles. During this time a cane was part of a man’s clothing just as much as shoes, a hat and a belt. The sidewalks were filled with people carrying a cane. It thus became an important object of urban as well as rural life in the whole Western world.

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247 Gadget cane for picnic Shaft: wood, dark brown/black Handle: silver, cup-shaped, unscrewable; diameter 6.5 cm and height 8.5 cm Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1934, probably England Length: 89.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The silver handle can be unscrewed and then you can take a knife and fork with an 800 silver handle each out of the wooden shaft. Silver handles with English hallmark Birmingham 1934. Such gadget canes were also often given away as a prize at sheep breeder competitions.

248 Gadget cane with sushi set Shaft: brass tube, grooved and stepped with trompe-l’œil painting, bamboo imitating Handle: mahogany (wood), hemisphere, unscrewable with inserted mother-of-pearl disc Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1930 Length: 91.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the mahogany handle is unscrewed, a glass cup with a separate stand and a 10 cm long glass flacon with aluminum/wood screw cap can be taken out of the hollow brass shaft. In addition, the brass tube can be divided into three parts by pulling and turning it. Thus, providing further sushi utensils. These are a knife, a ladle and a two-pronged fork. All parts have a wooden handle 22 cm in length. The next shaft part contains two wooden chopsticks and three wooden skewers 24.5 cm in length. This gadget cane contains a total of eleven eating and drinking utensils for a Japanese meal.

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249 Gadget cane for picnic Shaft: wood, square Round hook handle: wood, curved Collar (transition from handle to shaft): Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, round, 8 cm long with round tip Around 1929, probably England Length: 91.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The long pointed ferrule can be easily pushed vertically into the ground. The five original metal clips, which are carried separately in the original box, can then be hooked at right angles to the shaft. Porcelain plates can now be secured into the holding clamps. This creates an etagere for a picnic on the meadow. There is a plaque nailed on to shaft with the inscription The PIC NIC STIC Gerholds Patent 340490/29. BCM/YZ. The original box containing the metal clips had the note: Made in England on it. The six porcelain plates, which are packed in an aluminum box, were likely added later. They come from the Swiss Porcelain Manufactory Langenthal.

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250 Phrenologist cane Shaft: Malacca (wood), blond Handle: ivory in the form of a man’s bust with many numbers, region names and a number legend Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1893 Length: 92.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The silver collar is engraved with the inscriptions: Presented to the Rev. T.G. Dyke by the members of the Aberavon Phren. Soc. 1893. This phrenology cane with English hallmark (London 1893) represents the skull theory according to Dr. Gall, which wanted to prove that certain character traits can be deduced from the skull shape and sizes of the regions concerned. This false doctrine had both proponents and opponents from the very beginning. These diagnostic canes were carried by many physicians and later discarded or rejected.

Phrenology Phrenology is a topologically oriented doctrine developed at the beginning of the 19th century from the localization theory or skull theory formulated by the German physician and anatomist Franz Joseph Gall (1758 –1828), which attempted to assign mental characteristics and states to specific, clearly defined areas of the brain. A connection between skull and brain shape on the one hand and character and intellectual abilities on the other hand was assumed. According to Gall, the brain was the actual seat of all human intellectual activity. For him, character and mind, and ultimately intelligence, resulted from the interplay of the mental faculties present in varying degrees. To him, these were bound to a number of organs , in other words, material parts of the brain, each organ being the seat of a characteristic mental ability or drive. The size and shape of the individual organs was thus a measure of the expression of the respective character traits, and the overall character of a person was predetermined in the proportions of the organs to each other. Clues for the development of the organs could be obtained from the outer form of the skull (on a living object). Gall himself also showed interest in the transference of mortal remains of contemporaries into the spiritual realm and hoped to gain new insights from the study of the skulls of domestic animals (whose former peculiarities were to be communicated to him). This theory was disseminated from the beginning of the 19th century until 1860. After that it was still practiced, but had become obsolete as a research object. The scientific value of Gall’s theory has always been controversial due to its practically non-existent empirical foundation. However, this did not detract from its popularity. Anthropological and natural philosophical works which referred to it were among the most widely read writings of the time.

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251 Gadget cane for physicians Shaft: bamboo Handle: brass, nickel-plated Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Manufacturer: KaWe, Asperg (Germany) Around 1950, Germany Length: 93.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Handle with bayonet lock. When you open it, there is a glass syringe and needles for insulin in the shaft. The whole thing is embedded in a cooling container. The following engraving can be read on the cooling container: DREI PFEIL MARKE. (THREE ARROW MARK) Collar engraved: KaWe

KaWe, Asperg (Germany) With the registration of KIRCHNER & WILHELM on 1 April 1890 in Stuttgart, Gustav Kirchner and Hugo Wilhelm laid the foundation for a successful and company that operates worldwide. Medical instruments for diagnostics and surgery were already being produced for the entire German market at that time. KaWe soon made a name for itself among suppliers, physicians and hospitals, especially with its record metal syringes. At the end of 1916 Hugo Wilhelm handed over the business completely into the hands of Gustav Kirchner for health reasons. With great skill and dedication he managed to run his company successfully despite the turmoil of war. And less than two years later, his eldest son Albert was proud to join the management in 1918, where he remained until 1952. Following the family tradition, Georg Kirchner took over the sole management in 1962. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Kirchner family lived on for 54 years with him. Georg Kirchner died after a long illness in 2006. Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk joined the family business in Stuttgart in 1986 as an executive after qualified training and stays abroad. In 1989, KaWe moved to a new building in Asperg (Ludwigsburg district). Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk took over the management in 1997 and has consistently expanded the foreign trade and increased the export share by 70%. The company is now represented in more than 100 countries worldwide.

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252 Gadget cane for physicians Shaft: Malacca (wood), divisible Handle: silver, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): silver Around 1900 Length: 88.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the handle and split the shaft. Both contain different instruments for doctors. Among them a syringe, various scalpels, needles, etc.

Physician’s cane The connection of canes with medicine is legendary and goes back to ancient times. Canes which are associated with Asclepius, the Roman god of medicine, and Mercury, the Roman herald and god of trade are remarkable. According to mythology, while Asclepius was treating a patient, a snake entered his tent, wrapped itself around his staff and gave him the art of healing. Thus Asclepius is always represented with a gnarled staff with a snake wrapped around it. Apollo used a thin cane to separate two fighting snakes. This became a symbol of peace. When it was given to Mercury, the staff was fitted with wings to represent his speed as a messenger. There is much controversy about how, why and when the Mercury staff became the emblem of the medical profession.

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253 Gadget cane for temperature measurement Shaft: Malacca (wood), half-bark Round handle: silver with monogram E.G. Ferrule (lower end of the cane): horn Handle manufactured by: Thomas Brigg & Sons, London (England) Around 1850, England Length: 90.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The silver handle can be unscrewed and a thermometer is stored in the shaft. It is set in brass and iron. The scale on the thermometer ranges from 0 –240 Fahrenheit. Degrees Fahrenheit is a unit of temperature. It was named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. The thermometer was manufactured by The Hutchinson Co Ltd London.

Thomas Brigg & Sons, London Thomas Brigg & Sons was probably founded in 1836 and conducted its business in St. James’s Street, London. The company produced umbrellas and canes. An insurance file from 1809 provides early evidence that Charles Brigg was a plumassier or feather-maker, working as a manufacturer and supplier of feathers for the military. In 1828 Charles Briggs’ son, Thomas Edward, opened his own branch at 23 St. James’s Street in London. An advertisement in the Morning Post of 21 May 1828 shows that he had added the sale and repair of parasols to his business. In 1852, the company was operating under the name Thomas Brigg & Son. This suggests that Thomas’ son Edward had joined the family business. When Edward’s brother (another Thomas) entered into a partnership with him, the company began trading as Thomas Brigg & Sons. In 1861, the company had five employees. In 1879, the silversmith Charles Henry Dumenil (1853 –1921) registered his brand CD with the Goldsmith Company. Together with William Henry Brigg he patented improvements in the combination of pencils and the like with walking canes and the like in 1894. As early as 1881, Thomas Brigg Jr. already had fifteen employees. In December 1884, Thomas Brigg & Sons received recognition as an umbrella manufacturer from Queen Victoria. In 1899 the company expanded to the continental market. They opened an exhibition space at 33 Avenue de l’Opera in Paris. This establishment acquired other royal patrons, among them the King and Queen of Spain. By 1914, there were approved sales outlets for Brigg umbrellas in Barcelona, Berlin, Biarritz, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Florence, Madrid, Naples, Nice, Palermo, Rome, and Vienna. In 1919, the company bought the goodwill and shares of the French parasol manufacturer, Betaille, in the rue Royale in Paris. In 1931, Bertie and Guy Brigg converted the company into a public company, and five years later, they launched the ultra-flat Centenary umbrella . One Brigg umbrella was to become world famous. It was Neville Chamberlain’s black silk umbrella, which he took with him to Munich in September 1938 for talks with Adolf Hitler and to Rome in January 1939 to visit Benito Mussolini. The newspapers saw a symbol of hope in this umbrella. In July 1939, Life magazine spoke of an umbrella of appeasement. Hitler, angry with the participants of the Munich conference,

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ranted about the so-called umbrella politicians. It was a sad irony that the war broke out only months after Chamberlain’s attempt to avert it, and that soon afterwards, in 1940, the Thomas Brigg & Sons company lost its Paris showroom to the German occupiers of France. In February 1943 the company merged with Swaine & Adeney to form Swaine, Adeney, Brigg & Sons Ltd. The merger was supervised by Bertie Brigg. Brigg’s gave up their store in St. James’s Street but kept their canes and umbrellas factory in Newbury Street, City of London.

Brigg’s umbrellas and canes At a relatively early stage Brigg decided on the path of individualized umbrella production and purchased the frame components from Fox Umbrella Frames Ltd. but used their own shafts, handles, sleeves, sliders and rib tips, not to mention the covers. The company quickly added high-quality walking canes to its umbrella range. Daytime walking canes were light and made of wood, bamboo or cane with handles ranging from discreet to frivolous, with animal heads being very popular. The style and workmanship of some handles suggest that the Czilinsky family of ivory and wood carvers may well have received commissions from Brigg as well as from Swaine & Adeney. For evening dress, the handles were made of ebonized hardwood or exotic materials such as tortoiseshell. The handles could be made of gold, crystal or set with jewels. Silversmiths, wood and ivory carvers and turners were commissioned with luxury handles for canes. Brigg joined the late Victorian and Edwardian enthusiasm for gadget canes and umbrellas with concealed pencils, atomizers and other tricks. Silversmith Charles Henry Dumenil was a leading exponent of such objects and a major supplier of brackets for the company. Other silversmiths who supplied mounts included Charles Cooke of Frith Street, Soho, James Damant of City Road and Thomas Johnson.

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254 Gadget cane for physicians Shaft: Malacca (wood) with two brass eyelets and silk tassel looped through Handle: silver, removable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): ray skin Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1800 Length: 95.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you pull off the handle, you will find six knives inside for bloodletting. For each knife there is the appropriate storage space. A German physician would never have gone to a patient without his cane with a snake and ivory handle. Anglo-Saxon physicians usually carried a cane with a golden handle.

Bloodletting Bloodletting or (bleeding) is a healing method known since ancient times and frequently used in humans and animals until the 19th century, as well as a term for the method of obtaining blood from the bloodstream of vertebrates. When bloodletting for therapeutic purposes is performed, between 50 and 1000 ml of blood was taken from the (adult) person, today usually a maximum of 500 ml. A healing effect of bloodletting could be proven only for very few clinical conditions. As a result, it has largely disappeared from everyday medical practice. Like cupping, bloodletting is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment. It was already known before the time of Hippocrates (ca. 460–370 B.C.) and, like the use of emetics and laxatives (such as by means of an enema), was regarded as one of the most important, although not uncontroversial, medical standard forms of therapy for the elimination of harmful or excess bodily fluids based on the ancient theory of the humors until the 19th century.

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255 Gadget cane with circumcision tools Shaft: ebony, blackened Handle: ivory in the shape of an orthodox rabbi with silver hinged kippa (headgear of male Jews) Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, nickel-plated Around 1858 Length: 94.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The kippa can be opened and the following circumcision utensils can be removed from the hollowed-out handle: a lyre-shaped silver clip to clamp the foreskin, a hinged knife and a silver cup with engraved Star of David for disinfection. All three pieces, including the hinged kippa, have 13-loth silver hallmarks, a representation of the city gate and the year 1858 as well as the initials of the silversmith NZK. The engravings on the collar are very worn and only partially readable Gebhard, b(ei) Poulderhagen.

Circumcision in Judaism If a mother is Jewish, then her baby is also Jewish by birth. The covenant with God is sealed in boys by circumcision. This tradition is called Brit Mila in Hebrew. For Jews, it is a sign that the Jewish faith will now live on in the next generation. That’s why it is very important to Jews. Circumcision is a commandment that is followed even by most secular Jews, as they consider it an important part of Jewish identity. In circumcision, the boy’s foreskin is removed on the eighth day of life. In exceptional cases, Brit Mila is postponed, for example if the baby is sick or too weak for the procedure. If a man accepts the Jewish faith only later, he likewise shows his belonging to the covenant with God by being circumcised.

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256 Gadget cane with travel first-aid kit Shaft: metal tube covered with painted cardboard, imitating wood Ball handle: brass, nickel-plated, unscrewable Collar, (transition from handle to shaft): brass, nickel-plated Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass with iron tip Around 1900 Length: 89.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When the ball handle is unscrewed, a travel first-aid kit with six labelled bottles set in zinc plate can be pulled out of the shaft by means of a wooden handle. The original substances in the six bottles are still there. These are: arnica tincture, basic lead acetate, cholera drops, Hoffmann drops, ammonia and toothache drops. The original number label 15 of the original cane collector and famous painter from Basel, Niklaus Stoecklin, is still stuck on the shaft as well. He had documented all his canes on watercolor paintings. The corresponding original watercolor for this cane is located in the central display case of this exhibition together with the second cane of the watercolor, the gadget cane with telescope.

Arnica tincture In the Middle Ages, arnica was mentioned in herbal books to cure various ailments and diseases. Later in the 18th century this plant was even considered a panacea. Sebastian Kneipp mentioned it as follows: “...I believe it is the first cure for wounds and therefore, I cannot recommend it enough.” Goethe appreciated it as well and regularly drank arnica tea after his heart attack. This has allegedly improved his condition.

Basic lead acetate Basic lead acetate recommended by Goulard in the last century has been used in medicine. It is a mildly astringent agent and is used for bruises, burns, for compresses and washes, for injections in the case of mucus flows, also as eyewash.

Cholera drops The cholera drops, which are dispensed by pharmacists on the orders of a doctor during an epidemic, consist of opium tincture, usually with an unnecessary and perhaps even weakening addition of ethereal agents. The use of these drops were permitted without a specific medical prescription each time, because opium is one of the most effective remedies for cholera diarrhea and because the sooner it is taken, the more successful it is.

Hoffmann’s drops Hoffmann’s drops (1870: Hoffmann’s anodyne, named after its inventor Friedrich Hoffmann, 1660–1742) or ether wine spirit (technically called aetheris spiritus compositus) is a mixture of three parts ethanol or spirit of wine and one part diethyl ether, intended for medical use. Traditionally, Hoffmann’s drops were used as a medicine, for example, for weakness, fainting, neuralgia, convulsive conditions and strong vomiting.

Ammonia Ammonia is a colorless substance which is toxic in high concentrations with a pungent odor. Ammonia is produced in the body as a waste product of numerous metabolic processes, such as the breakdown of amino acids. Ammonia is detoxified in

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the liver and converted to urea. Elevated ammonia levels in the blood occur mainly in liver diseases.

Toothache drops Toothache drops are placed in hollow teeth using a cotton wool plug to soothe carious toothache. Less frequently, it is painted with a brush in hollow teeth or on the gums. The same procedure was used to remove the caries before sealing. Essential oils, chloroform, ether anesthetics, creosote and carbolic acid were preferably used, more rarely coniine and morphine solution. Of course, tooth drops are only prescribed for a few grams.

Cane collector Niklaus Stoecklin (1896, Basel–1982, ibidem) Not only was Niklaus Stoecklin a great Swiss painter and graphic designer, but he was also a passionate cane collector. His collection comprised always only 99 items. He didn’t want more – since there were 99 hooks on the narrow board in the entryway to his house, where they were all hung in a row for everyone to see. It all started with a cane that Niklaus Stoecklin received as a gift. This one inspired him to collect fancy canes, and over the years, his collection grew to 99. He would not hesitate to part with a cane if it meant incorporating a more original piece into his collection. For a dedicated collector, quality was more important than quantity. Three canes from his former collection can be seen in the exhibition: a unique cane containing a travel pharmacy with six little bottles of toothache, cholera, and spirit of ether drops, Goulard’s extract, tincture of arnica, and ammonia liquid, a cane with a spyglass and compass, and a herder’s cane with a flute. Also, on display are the artistic watercolor drawings meticulously crafted by Niklaus Stoecklin. Niklaus Stoecklin was a primary practitioner of New Objectivity and Magic Realism in addition to being a prominent poster designer. He grew up in Basel as the son of a merchant and learned the handcraft of artistic painting from his uncle, the painter Heinrich M üller. For decades, Stoecklin also devoted himself to poster design. His public works, including the mural over the wedding announcement boards at the Basel Münsterplatz (1920) and his work as a lamp artist for Basel Carnival, garnered him widespread recognition. Furthermore, he designed a few stamps for Swiss Post. He also created many stamps for Pro Juventute and Pro Patria with motifs of insects and fossils. Picture collections by Niklaus Stoecklin can be found in museums in Basel, Winterthur, Zurich, Chur, Solothurn and Fribourg. The MoMA Museum of Modern Art in New York has posters by the artist.

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257 Gadget cane for pharmacists Shaft: rosewood Handle: silver, in the shape of a man’s head with beard and hinged hat Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): Around 1860 Length: 93.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you open the hat of the handle a small box becomes visible. It could be filled with powder.

258 Gadget cane with pillbox Shaft: ivory, elegantly segmented with tassels of extremely fine braided and dyed plant fibers looped through a hole. Handle: ivory, spiral-shaped, fluted and screw-on Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, spiral-shaped and running to a point Around 1820 Length: 90.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

Unscrewing the handle lid opens up a storage container. Pills, sweets or smelling salt could be stored in it. Smelling salt was needed often when the ladies were about to faint. This happened often, because corsets were laced too tightly.

Smelling salts Smelling salts are various intensely smelling substances that were held under the nose from the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century to return people to consciousness during dizzy and fainting spells. Smelling canes served the same purpose. Smelling salt is no longer used in modern first aid. Most smelling salts are based on ammonium carbonate, which releases ammonia by dissociation in a humid environment. Ammonia was supposed to cause an increased stimulus to breathe in the nose and lungs, which then was to result in better oxygen supply for the patient. The raw material used was salt of hartshorn, one third of which consists of ammonium carbonate. The effect could be increased by adding ammonia to increase the ammonium carbonate content.

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259 Ladies’ gadget cane with pillbox Shaft: Malacca (wood), light brown Ball handle: ivory with pillbox, silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): metal Ferrule (lower end of the cane): dark buffalo horn tip Around 1880 Length: 90.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The cover of the silver pillbox can be folded up and pills can be taken out of the gold-plated interior. Hallmark: 800 silver with ship’s steering wheel and the number 1.

260 Gadget cane with ear trumpet Shaft: brass, painted black Handle: brass, painted black, conical with star-shaped sound holes and fold-out ear adapter with ivory end piece Ferrule (lower end of the cane) brass Around 1920 Length: 91.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unfolding the ear canal bar, the cane can be held as a whole to the ear and used as a hearing aid. By bundling the sound waves entering the bell, bundled sound waves are created which are perceived as amplified.

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261 Gadget cane with ear trumpet Shaft: brass tube, painted brown Cane handle: brass, nickel-plated, removable as a bell Collar (transition from handle to shaft): bayonet lock Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated and iron tip unscrewable Around 1890 Length: 88.4 cm Lender: private collection from the region

When you open the bayonet catch you can remove the bell from the shaft. A two-piece ear tube can be removed from the cavity, which can be screwed together for the external auditory canal (base of the ear). Next, the bell is put back on the metal shaft. By unscrewing the lower part of the shaft with the ferrule, the ear canal tube can be screwed to the end of the shaft. The result is an ear trumpet with an impressive length of 92 cm. Due to the conical shape, the sound waves entering through the funnel are bundled and thus perceived by the human ear in an amplified form.

History of hearing aids Today’s hearing aids are discreet high-tech systems with impressive performance. Various hearing aids have been helping people with hearing loss for almost 200 years. Since the microprocessor was invented in the 1970s, the development of better hearing aids has accelerated dramatically. A simple, funnel-shaped ear trumpet, which collects the sound and directs it directly into the ear canal, became common in the 19th century. The first electric hearing aid was invented by Miller Reese Hutchison in 1898. It was a portable carbon microphone based on the principle of the telephone. The device amplified the sound by means of electrical voltage. Portable and therefore more practical devices had been around since 1902, but they were not in general use until the 1940s. These hearing aids could only help if the hearing loss was moderate. In 1920, shipbuilding engineers invented a hearing aid made of electron tubes and named it Vactuphone. This hearing aid uses the technology of the telephone to convert sound waves into electrical signals and then amplifies them. The Vactuphone is more powerful than coal devices. But it requires two of the then very expensive batteries. In the mid 1990s, the first fully digital behind-the-ear and in-the- ear hearing aids with a performance of 40 million computing steps per second were mass-produced. Today, modern hearing aid technology is so advanced that the tiny digital devices are almost invisible in the ear. This means that people with hearing loss who previously shied away from wearing visible hearing aids can now enjoy better hearing.

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262 Gadget cane with dancing doll Shaft: wood Round handle: Bakelite with embedded, dancing doll Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1920 Length: 88.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

In the round handle you can see a small puppet. With every movement of the cane the little doll, which is mounted on a spring, starts to dance. It moves its arms and legs.

263 Gadget cane with roulette game Shaft: Malacca (wood) with two brass eyelets and silk tassel looped through Handle: horn with embedded roulette game Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron Around 1880 Length: 83.0 cm Lender: private collection from the region

A roulette game is embedded in the handle. There is a small knob in the middle of the cover glass of the roulette game. If you lift it up, you can give the roulette a spin and the ball starts spinning. Like in real Roulette, after the Roulette has stopped, you can determine in which field the ball is located at the end. A pastime for gentlemen of the higher society.

264 Gadget cane with dice Shaft: wood, with ivory eyelets and braided, bicolored leather cord with adjustable wooden sphere looped through Handle: ivory Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1890 Length: 86.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The ivory handle contains a dice cup with three colored dice (red, green and yellow). The built-in spring base and the domed watch glass make it possible to throw dice by dropping the cane slightly without the dice falling out.

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265 Gadget cane with dice Shaft: oak wood Handle: Probably ivory with hand carved head, cover made of silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): probably silver, chased Probably end of 19th century Length: 89 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The handle consists of a beautifully hand-carved medieval king’s head with beard and glass eyes. A silver cover that can be opened is located at the top of the head. Inside is a hollow space which is covered with green velvet. Two dice for playing can be found within.

Hazard dice Hazard, Old English or French Hasard, is an Old English game with two dice, which is mentioned as early as the 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales. The name Hasard is derived from the Arabic yasara for play dice . Despite its complicated rules, Hazard was so popular in the 17th and 18th centuries that it became the gambling game par excellence. Gambling is therefore also generally referred to as hazard games. Hazard was particularly popular in Crockford’s, Almack’s and Brooks’ clubs in London. Hazard was also known as craps. Modern craps, which is played privately and in casinos, emerged from Hazard at the beginning of the 19th century by simplifying the original rules.

266 Gadget cane with small gaming table Shaft: wood, blackened Angle handle: horn Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, nickel-plated with floral motifs Around 1900, probably England Length: 90.5 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The table made of umbrella silk is stretched by four rods. They are hidden along with the feet and the rolled silk in the upper half of the cane, which can be unscrewed. This is an English patent from 1891. This gaming table (40 cm x 40 cm) is ideal for card games.

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267 Gadget cane with dominoes Shaft: Malacca (wood) Handle: ivory, galuchat (fish leather), removable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): ivory Ferrule (lower end of the cane): wood Around 1920 Length: 87.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you pull off the lid on the handle, you can remove the ivory dominoes from the shaft.

Fish leather (galuchat) Fish leather is not a new product, because the skin of fish was processed into leather very early in Europe. In the absence of more suitable leathers, it is said that during the Second World War insoles and drive belts were made from cured fish skins. In 1939, there were ten factories in Germany, which, among other types of leather, also produced fish leather manually. In 1940, the Frankfurter Modeamt presented clothes and shoes made of fish leather. Even among primitive peoples there are only a few people today who have mastered processing this type of leather.

Domino game Domino is a laying game with mostly 28 rectangular tiles. The stones are divided into two fields, on which between zero and, depending upon extent of the set, up to 18 dots in all possible combinations are represented. According to the highest number of points in the game, a distinction is made between double 6s, double 9s, double 12s, double 15s and double 18s domino sets. To make the game easier, the numbers of the different fields are often colored differently. The origin of the domino game is unclear. Chinese roots and the import of the stones by Marco Polo are suspected, but cannot be proven with absolute certainty. The name at least suggests monastic descent, as it may once have come from the long black cloak that was jokingly called domino, or from benedicamus domino , the triumphal call of a passionately playing abbot.

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268 Gadget cane with draughts Shaft: wood Handle: wood, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1900 Length: 88.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

After unscrewing the handle, you can pull a brass rod out of the shaft. Game pieces made of agate are lined up on this rod. After you roll out the board, you can start playing draughts.

Draughts (game) Draughts is a strategic board game for two players and is played on a chessboard with 8x8 or international 10x10 squares. Only the black fields of the game board are used, on which the typical disc-shaped game pieces are moved. The aim of the game is to capture all of the opponent’s stones by jumping over them or rendering them immobilized, thus winning the game. The modern game of draughts probably originated in the 12th century in present-day Spain or in southern France from the Alquerque (also known as Quirkat) and was played on the chessboard available at that time with the pieces of backgammon. Originally the pieces were called ferses, after the queen in chess. At that time the queen could only move one field. The innovation was the skipping and removal of enemy stones, taken over from Alquerque. The game was called Fierges at that time. Another similarity with chess in the past was that the draughts player is not obliged to take advantage of every opportunity to overcome the opponent's pieces. Around 1535, it became obligatory to perform such a game move and was included in the rules as a compulsory capture of opponent pieces. If a player missed the opportunity, his piece was blown off the board or taken away as a penalty. This new form is called jeu forcé (the sharp game), the older jeu plaisant (the polite game). The current standard version is the jeu forcé. The renaming of the ferses in chess to queen led to a parallel renaming of the game in French to jeu des dames. The game spread throughout France and the rest of Europe. In 1688 the oldest known printed rulebook, Jeu des Dames, was published in France. The Polish draughts (today also French draughts) on a board of 10x10 fields developed around 1730 and is said to have been invented in Paris by a French official of the royal court and his playing partner, a Polish nobleman. The British variant of draughts developed in England and the Treatise on the Game of Draughts by William Payne was published in 1756, which, among other things, intensively discussed the analysis of the endgame variants of the game. English settlers brought the game to the United States, where it became known as Checkers. In the 1880s, draughts tasks were often published in the weekly magazine Die Gartenlaube (The Gazebo). This suggests that this game was relatively widespread among the population.

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269 Gadget cane for magicians Shaft: Metal shaft, black lacquered Handle: aluminum, turned, with 24 cm big hole opening at the top Ferrule (lower end of the cane): bronze, hollow Around 1880 Length: 89.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The magic cane is prepared by stuffing a three-colored (purple, pink, green) two-meter long crepe silk garland into the handle opening. Now a firing pin must be inserted into the unscrewable bronze ferrule. Then carefully screw in the shaft without the moving firing pin falling on it in the shaft. If the cane is moved forward and backward with a jerky movement, the firing pin strikes the firing pin and the explosion ejects the garland out of the aluminum handle into the audience. This was an effective magic trick for every illusionist.

Magician canes Canes that magicians used during their show were very special. Some turned into small tables made of black cloth, which were stretched out by light tripods. Other canes of illusionists were even more specialized. Such canes could be transformed in various ways and used to perform magic tricks. The June 1971 issue of Historia magazine, stated that Robert- Houdin used a cane to introduce La Suspension éthéréene (magical levitation) . The child, equipped with a corset and a lock between elbow and cane, was able to maintain the horizontal position without further support. The illusionist pretended that the child inhaled ether to be able to hold this position. Illusionists and magicians often use canes in their tricks. Even today we can still see magicians dancing with their canes. The cane turns around the magician. This is because the cane is connected to the hands of the illusionist with two very thin ropes. The cane is made of balsa wood, thus it is very light, which makes this magic trick possible. There were canes that consisted of a long steel blade in the form of a spiral or a spiral spring, which allowed it to relax with force and take on the shape of a black cane, or, if the spring was mounted in the opposite direction, the spiral cane retracted in a flash and formed a small tube four to five centimeters long.

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270 Gadget cane with spinning top game Shaft: wooden Handle: wooden, in the form of a top Collar (transition from handle to shaft): bronze with a small wooden spinning top with wound up string Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass without iron tip Around 1880 Length: 104.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the handle, a large spinning top is released which can be started by rubbing between the palms of the hands. In addition, the smaller top can be thrown by pulling on the string, with the bronze collar serving as a pulling device. In the south of France, these canes were often taken to the bistro for competitions. The loser with the shortest time of the top spinning then had to buy a round.

Spinning top for throwing The spinning top is a very old toy that has played an important role in children’s street play for hundreds of years. With the increasing traffic and the advent of electronic toys, it has largely disappeared from the play repertoire of today's children and young people and has almost been forgotten. The throwing top game is part of the genre of spinning top games. There is evidence of knowledge and practice of the throwing tops game in Europe back to almost 500 years ago. The street game known in Germany as “Preckel” or spinning top for throwing is widespread in many other countries and has a long tradition there. The toy consists of a pear-shaped heavy spinning top made of hardwood, which is surrounded by spirally notched rough grooves and ends in an iron wick at its tip. It includes an approximately 50 cm long sturdy string, which is wrapped around the top and sets it in a rotating motion with a powerful throw. The surface must be hard and as smooth as possible so that the gyroscopic movement is not slowed down. Only a few square meters of playing surface are required. In contrast to the whipping top, which was preferred by girls as a game of skill, the rougher throwing top game was considered a typical boy’s game, which was usually executed in variations as a fighting and war game.

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271 Gadget cane with table skittles Shaft: Malacca (wood), dark Handle: boxwood, turned in the shape of a beer barrel Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass/iron Around 1820 Length: 83.8 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the cover of the handle and take out a nine- piece table skittles game. It consists of nine erectable pins, an ivory ball and a red wooden cane.

Skittles Skittles is one of the oldest sports. Precursors already existed in ancient Egypt. Archaeological excavations revealed parts of a children’s skittles game from around 3500 BCE and wall reliefs in graves depicting scenes of the game. Folk skittles games have been continuously documented since the 12th century. In 1157 the chronicle of Rothenburg ob der Tauber (town in northern Bavaria, Germany) describes skittles as a widespread popular pastime for the first time. In Xanten am Niederrhein (town in Germany), a skittles guild is on record for the year 1300, whose income was used to build the collegiate church. At that time, however, the focus was not on the sporting aspect, but on betting. As a result, legal regulations are documented which tried to curb gambling and in this way associated skittles with card and dice games. Time and again, skittles was completely banned, for example in England under Richard II and, according to tradition, in Germany and France in 1370. Even during the Reformation, Protestant authorities attempted to eliminate the prevalent (bad) custom of skittles. In 1529, skittles was prohibited in the mornings as well as on Sundays and public holidays in Basel, Switzerland. None of this was enough to curb the growing popularity of the game of skittles in the long term. Although, like most games, it was considered blasphemy, skittles was practiced in monasteries as well and was often called heathen killing . The monks considered the short wooden columns that were erected to be pagan gods and demons and knocked them over with stones or wooden balls. Skittles soon became part of the great popular festivals. Due to the measurable and countable performances in skittles, it was classified as a sport early on, even though a random element was always present, especially on uneven surfaces. It was played outdoors without exception up to the 18th century. Skittles was always part of any fair or major wedding. It was still often about goods and money. The courtly world of the rococo period also enjoyed skittles. At the beginning to the middle of the 19th century, the establishment of skittles communities initially served to support the needy. But soon it gained more and more importance as a sport. Sports skittles was born and spread rapidly.

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272 Gadget cane with skittles Shaft: beech wood, painted and carved imitating bamboo Ball handle: wood, unscrewable Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass, chased Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and rounded iron tip Around 1920 Length: 91 cm Lender: private collection from the region

The shaft consists of three extendable elements. Six cones and two cone balls made of horn are hidden in small measuring compartments in the handle. The lower part of the shaft contains two game cues with leather tips. The dexterity mini skittles game requires great skill of the players. The game canes exist in infinite variations and are intended for amusement. Many classic games can be found hidden in walking canes such as chess, dominoes, Mikado, to name a few.

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273 Gadget cane with billiards cue Shaft: different woods with figurative inlays in art deco style and snake skin Handle: nickel/silver Around 1920 Length: 86.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the nickel silver handle, the front, light-wooden part of a billiards cue of 54.6 cm length can be removed from the hollow shaft. This shaft can be detached from the handle. The front part is screwed to the shaft after unscrewing the ferrule, resulting in a billiards cue of 138.0 cm. The unscrewed ferrule can be screwed to the handle for storage and screwed back on to the shaft as an end piece. The cane consists of four parts (handle, shaft, extension and ferrule).

Billiards Billiards or billiard game is a game where two people or two teams play against each other. The cue is used to push the billiard balls on a billiard table covered with billiard cloth. The player uses the cue to hit only the white ball (game ball), which in turn can hit other balls (object balls). Today the balls are mostly made of a high-quality phenolic resin. The English spelling billiards corresponds to the French origin. The French word bille refers to a small sphere, a ball or a marble. Billiards can be divided into up to 35 types. The most popular of these are pool billiards, snooker, carom, skittle billiards, Russian billiards and English billiards.

Cue A cue is the cane with which the balls are kicked when playing billiards. From the middle of the 18th century onwards, cues began to be used instead of the curved clubs that had been common until then. Since the game of billiards developed from pall-mall and croquet, it is a lawn game brought to the table. Thus, in the beginning, cues looked similar to the mallets used in the lawn games, in other words, hammer-shaped. This form, the mace, which turned out not to be very useful, was developed further into a cue over the years to achieve a more accurate trajectory of the balls. Frenchman François Mingaud, who was just serving a prison sentence, invented the leather tip of the cue in 1807. This made it possible to play the balls with a spin. Due to his further development and research in this field he was awarded the title of Professeur de Billard.

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274 Petanque cane Shaft: chestnut wood Handle: chestnut wood, curved Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron with three spring-loaded wire rings Around 1900 Length: 91.7 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By gently pressing the spring-loaded iron rings onto a fist-sized ball lying on the floor, you can pick it up without having to bend down. A jerky pull upwards suffices to release the captured object again a at the desired location. This cane could also be used to pick up apples, quinces, etc. It is a very practical and original invention without a patent registration noted on the cane.

Petanque Petanque is a precision sport associated with the game of Boule. Two teams try to throw a certain number of balls as close as possible to a previously thrown target ball. In the competition teams of three players (triplette), two players (doublette) or only one player (Tête-à-tête) face each other. At the beginning of the 20th century, Jules Le Noir lived in La Ciotat in the south of France, near the municipality of Cassis. He was known as a good boules player, but due to a rheumatic illness he was no longer able to take the three steps required for the Jeu Provençal, which is still popular today. In addition, the distances between the play circle and the target ball are between 15 and 21 meters. His friend Ernest Pitiot therefore invented a game that is played at a shorter distance and without a run-up. Closed feet (french pieds tanqués) are called ped tanco in the south of France. The history of the ball game can be traced back to the year 460 BC, when the Greek physician Hippocrates of Kos made a laudatory mention of a game played with stone balls. In the 2nd century AD, the Greek scholar lulius Pollux described a game in which two players had to hit a distant brick with their stone balls. In a court ban on ball games in 1629 it stated: boule seduces to vicious excesses and is the cause of other impertinences. Nevertheless, the game continued to spread. It was particularly popular among soldiers as evidenced by some of the key boules terms. For example, the tireur was the one who operated the detonator of a cannon and pointer means literally translated to direct (the gun). The passion for balls went so far that in 1824, the Lyon City Council issued a decree prohibiting the playing with balls on the main streets of the city. The first tournament of the precision sport of Boule Lyonnaise was held seventy years later, from which Jeu Provençal, played with smaller and lighter balls, originated. Pétanque’s roots lie in this game.

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275 Gadget cane as golf club Shaft: wood, blackened Handle: silver Collar (transition from handle to shaft): silver Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1920 Length: 91.2 cm Lender: private collection from the region

This gadget cane could be used as a golf club. You turn the cane over and the silver handle can be used as a golf club. Thus, you could practice putting . This gadget cane was very popular in England, where it was forbidden to play golf on Sunday. With this cane, men could still pursue their favorite sport and practice putting . If someone came, you simply turned the golf club over again and all you had was a walking cane with a silver handle.

276 Athletes’ cane Shaft: bamboo Ball handle: iron, heavy Collar (transition from handle to shaft): iron Manufacturer: Thomas Brigg & Sons, London (England) Around 1900, England Length: 89 cm Lender: private collection from the region

One would easily assume that this gadget cane is a defensive cane or truncheon. The completely symmetrical weight distribution over the entire length of the cane, however, speaks against it. The cane was used for physical training. In addition, you could practice juggling very well with this cane. Thomas Brigg & Sons was a very renowned for the production of umbrellas, canes and whips. The products were sold under their own label. However, the raw items were each made by specialists or anonymous artists.

277 Gadget cane with fishing rod Shaft: bamboo Handle: brass, elaborately chased, unscrewable Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass Around 1860 Length: 98 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the handle. Fishing lines and hooks are contained within it. The bamboo shaft holds the four parts inserted into each other. These can then be put together to form a 380 cm long fishing rod. The heavy handle keeps the fishing rod well balanced. Hidden fishing rods were often intended for poaching, in other words, secret and illegal fishing. You could approach the fish ponds of the manor houses without attracting attention.

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278 Gadget cane for fishermen Shaft: bamboo Round handle: brass with bait box Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass and iron tip Around 1870 Length: 78.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the iron tip and pull out an extension to a total length of 139.3 cm. Various fishing gear can be attached to it. These parts are carried in a separately wrapped fabric case with leather straps. These six different attachments make up six different devices: harpoon with barbed hook, two-pronged harpoon, five-pronged harpoon, knife and landing net (sack-like net) with iron gaff.

Harpoon The harpoon is a barbed throwing spear or javelin used for hunting fish and whaling. The barbs prevent the impaled animals from slipping off the spear again and being lost.

279 Gadget cane for anglers Shaft: wood, painted Round handle: wood, striped, painted Collar (transition from handle to shaft): nickel Ferrule (lower end of the cane): nickel External thread spool in a green velvet bag Around 1930, probably Switzerland Length: 90.6 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By unscrewing the round hook handle a metal fishing rod can be pulled out of the shaft. It can be extended to a length of 281 cm. In addition, a hand coil with nylon thread can be attached to the handle. The bottom contains fishhooks, float, a peg driver, corkscrew and a set of brass tweezers. Labeled: Gentlemen Breveté Swiss Made .

Fishing rods in gadget canes Although sports fishermen today only use plastic rods, retractable rods have been around for a long time. There are two main types of gadget canes as well: the telescopic one, where sliding elements are placed into position by means of a throwing movement, and the nested one, where each element fits into the other using metal sleeves to form the fishing rod. The most commonly used material is of course bamboo, but aluminum and nowadays fiberglass are also used. These models may include a spool, hooks and boxes for flies or bait in the handle. Fishing rods have been around for a long time, because long before they were mentioned in the sales catalogues of the late 19th century, a reference to fishing rods can be found in the "Diaro de Madrid" of 12 November 1793.

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280 Gadget cane with nightingale lure Shaft: chestnut wood Handle: horn, angled Collar (transition from handle to shaft): mirrored, unscrewable, protected by leather sheathing Ferrule (lower end of the cane): iron, tapering to an octagonal tip Around 1880, France Length: 88.9 cm Lender: private collection from the region

If you unscrew the angled horn handle and the mirror collar underneath, a square, 15 cm long, pointed steel rod becomes visible. To attract and capture nightingales, the remaining shaft is rammed vertically into the ground with its pointed ferrule so that the square steel reaches into the sky. Now you can remove the leather sheath from the mirrored collar and place it horizontally on the square tip with a hole in the middle of the side. This creates a lure that moves in the wind and reflects the sunlight on all sides, fascinating and attracting nightingales. Nightingales are famous for their individual beautiful songs.

Nightingale song Only the nightingale males sing. The song of the nightingale is rich, melodious and loud and is perceived by people as very pleasant and beautiful. The singing is extremely complex, varied, unpredictable and imaginative, consisting of verses of densely arranged single or double notes. There are both chirped and fluted sounds, tone repetitions, as well as trill-like ribattuta di gola ornaments, the interval range of which can be quite different. The voice has a large range. High notes or passages alternate with those of a low or middle register. The dynamics are also very variable, changing from quiet to loud passages, sometimes in crescendo effects. In addition to fast and rapid coloraturas of an apparently cheerful or even witty expressiveness, there are also long drawn-out tones with a particularly melodious voice and tone repetitions that have a lamenting or yearning effect and are considered to be particularly characteristic. In early spring, unpaired male nightingales sing from eleven o’clock at night until the morning. The nocturnal song most likely serves to attract a mate and ceases after pairing. From mid-May onwards, only unpaired males therefore usually sing at night. During the whole breeding season until mid-June, male nightingales sing during the day as well. Singing during the dawn probably serves above all to defend the bird’s territory against other males. Nightingale males learn their song during early adolescence from neighboring birds and master between 120 and 260 different types of verses, which are usually two to four seconds long. This extremely extensive repertoire is thus almost unique among European songbirds.

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281 Gadget cane for butterfly collectors Shaft: brass with trompe l’oeil painting imitating bamboo Handle, T-shaped: buffalo horn, dark with embedded metal box Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass tip (lower end of the cane): buffalo horn, dark Around 1900 Length: 88.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

You can unscrew the handle and divide the shaft into three parts. It contains a butterfly net made of a thin fabric. Two metal loops attached to a telescopic rod keep the net open. The net is wrapped around the stick. The shaft under the handle contains a brass tube with two compartments, one enameled to hold ether and the other to hold tweezers, lancet, a small pointed utensil and other instruments a butterfly collector would need.

Butterfly collecting From about 1830 to about 1914, collecting live butterflies was an extremely popular activity. Flocks of people set out on days off, armed with a butterfly net and preserving jars, and hunted butterflies. The rarer the butterfly, the more it was sought after. Once the collectors came home with their catch, the butterflies were put into ether, killing them. The insects were then skewered with pins, dried and often hung in boxes on the wall as decoration. The whole thing had nothing to do with science, of course. It was a strange hobby from our perspective today.

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282 Gadget cane Makila (throwing spear) Shaft: wild medlar (wood) with grown scars Round handle: horn with enamel plaque and the inscriptions ESKUAL HERIA, SOULE LABOURG, BASSE NAVARRE, leather handle with brass clasp and leather loop tied to it Collar (transition from handle to shaft): brass with the inscription GRILLON Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, long with continuing scars and iron tip. Before 1900 Length: 90.1 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By turning the handle, an 85 cm long traditional throwing spear or lance can be removed from the handle. This weapon, with a 16 cm long brass and iron tip, was used in the Basque Country as a weapon against wolves and bears. ESKUAL HERIA means Basque Country . SOULE LABOURG and BASSE NAVARRE are Basque regions. The Basque Country is an autonomous region in the north of Spain with a strong cultural tradition.

Makila Makila is the traditional cane of the Basque people. A walking cane used by hunters, walkers and shepherds both as a walking aid and for protection against wild animals. A Makila is a completely handcrafted and elegant cane, the production process of which has been maintained over several centuries. The reliefs of the piece of wood come from the cut of the wild medlar. This process causes the sap rising through the branch to envelop the cuts and form the patterns characteristic of the Makila . The branch is cut in winter, peeled in an oven, stained with quicklime and smoothed by heat. The cane thus prepared is decorated at the bottom with a ring of brass, nickel silver or silver, carefully hand-engraved with Basque motifs. The other end of the cane is crowned with a horn handle, which is fixed with a threaded sleeve covered with braided leather.

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283 Gadget cane with double lance Zulfiqar Shaft: brass, chased with floral patterns and partly black enameled or silver-plated Ball handle: rhino horn Ferrule (lower end of the cane): brass, unscrewable with iron tip Before 1900 Length: 96.3 cm Lender: private collection from the region

By pulling out the handle, a double lance tip attached to the ball handle is released. It can be screwed to the shaft by removing the ferrule. In this way a two-pointed lance, also called Zulfiqar , is created. To lengthen the lance, a conical wooden shaft can also be inserted into the hollow shaft so that the lance can be extended to a total length of 212 cm. This very dangerous weapon is said to have been used during tiger hunts in the Indo-Persian region.

Zulfiqar Zulfiqar was the name of a sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib, which he received as loot from his father-in-law Mohammed at the Battle of Badr. Subsequently, the sword became an important symbol of the Shiites, Alevis and Alawites. The name of the sword has been attested since the late 8th century. According to tradition, this is to indicate the presence of holes or grooves or furrows on the sword, which were created during the process of chasing. Later, however, the name was interpreted in the sense that the sword has a slit. Accordingly, it was represented as two-bladed or two-pointed.

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