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A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes

By Anthony Moss
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes offers a comprehensive exploration of walking canes from across the globe, spanning ancient times to the present day. The book delves into both the practical and ceremonial roles of canes, illustrated with over 800 full-colour photographs from the celebrated A&D Collection. Readers will discover not only functional mobility aids but also artefacts of cultural and symbolic importance, from legendary staffs in Chinese folklore to ecclesiastical crosiers and playful prank canes. Meticulously researched and richly detailed, this volume invites both collectors and casual readers to appreciate the enduring societal significance of canes.
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Format: Hardback
$20158
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for collectors, historians, and anyone fascinated by cultural artefacts and design. It also appeals to readers intrigued by the intersection of history, art, and society through everyday objects.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

This book aims to bring to life a picture of a bygone era, a time when ‘the cane was king’, simulating an age which the only film, theatre, literature and imagination can recreate. In this way, I wish to educate further the student, collector, historian and researcher in how the cane played such an important role in fashion.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A comprehensive study of walking canes from around the world, dating from the distant past to the modern day. The book presents a historical context on both practical and ceremonial usage. At the same time, specially shot pictures showcase the celebrated A&D Collection of canes, while enlightening prose demonstrates the cane's enduring relevance to society.

More than just a mobility aid, the cane has held numerous offices of significance. From the staff of the legendary Monkey King in the classic Chinese Journey to the West, or the stylised crosiers carried by high-ranking prelates from the Roman Catholic church, to the truncheon wielded by Mr Punch in puppet shows, canes are embedded in the culture of almost every country around the globe.

Roving the map with one hand and thumbing through history books with the other, A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes seeks not only to introduce the collector to the diverse wealth of canes available but also to entertain the casual reader.

Intermingled with over 800 full-colour pictures are descriptions of gadget canes for tradesmen, squirting canes for pranksters, and glamorous Art Nouveau canes for the dapper gentlemen of the '20s. Informative and meticulously researched, this book paves an accessible route into a niche subject while paying homage to our ongoing relationship with canes. This story stretches back as far as history itself.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for its careful research and rich imagery, this book stands out among photographic works on antique walking sticks. Experts commend Anthony Moss’s integration of historical detail with passionate collector insight, highlighting the cane as a powerful and symbolic artefact. It is described as an essential read for those interested in the historical and cultural journey of walking canes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781538144954

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 October 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield

Illustration: 898 colour photos

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 222.0mm

Height: 286.0mm

Weight: 1980g

Pages: 568

Collections

Anthony Moss Arts & Culture Home & Garden Non-Fiction

About the Author

Anthony Moss is an avid Rabologist (a collector of walking sticks). He is Joint Chairman of The Antique Walking Cane Society based in London; a Member of The International Society of Cane Collectors based in the USA and regularly attends Canemania, an International Cane Convention.
Collecting has always been his craving, starting with collecting books at age 9. He and his wife Deanna married 56 years ago and began collecting Victorian furniture when it was inexpensive. In the 1970s their collecting interests expanded to encompass a wide range of antiques and collectables such as writing instruments, nibs, pencils, and early pens. In 1998 Deanna made the mistake of buying Anthony a few walking canes and thus his passion as a Rabologist began.

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