Masters of disguise
Ingenious gadget canes up for grabs
An assortment of rare gadget canes from the Phil Barnett Collection comes to auction at Miller & Miller on November 9.
Everyone loves a secret. Even the most ordinary people can harbor extraordinary secrets—and sometimes those secrets are held in the most unsuspecting places. Imagine yourself at a Victorian-era cocktail party, where a dapper gentleman leans over his cane by the barside. Does he truly need it to stand? Or, is that cane designed to hide something?
Miller & Miller's upcoming sale features the Phil Barnett Collection. Barnett’s keen eye for the quirky and unusual led him in many directions, including to an old collection of canes. He purchased the collection and soon discovered the secrets that many of the pieces held: a loose handle revealed a sword, a wiggly cap concealed a flask, and piece by piece, he unraveled the century-old mysteries of gadget canes. And they are now coming to auction at Miller & Miller.
While viewed today as necessities for the elderly, canes or "walking sticks" were once considered essential to a gentleman’s wardrobe, and powerful conduits of individual expression. They were also symbols of status, signifying good fashion judgement and sophistication. Unlike the mass-produced, “one size fits all” canes of today, traditional canes were often carved and handcrafted from high-quality materials including exotic hardwoods, precious metals, and prized animal bones and antlers. Many of them told a story using intricate symbols and motifs such as snakes and beasts, crosses and hearts, skulls and crossbones. These were narratives of power, protection, wisdom and wonder—all aspects essential to human aspiration.
While many canes of the gilded era told stories, others were designed to hide them. Gadget canes, as they are now known, hide a secondary purpose that is known to the bearer, but not the bystander. They conceal hidden features such as weapons or tools. Whether used for protection, power, indulgence, or fun, these canes offer deep insights into their bearer’s needs and desires. Think of them as a 19th century James Bond accessory similar to a grenade pen, laser watch, or dagger shoes. Designed for the sole purpose of deceiving, they are carefully equipped with some element of surprise.
Take, for instance, lot 447: a bone-handled walking stick that doubles as a weapon akin to a switchblade knife. This late 19th century walking stick becomes an instant weapon when the owner swings it with force. Having no sheath, this stick was designed with a retractable 3.25-inch steel blade to protect the owner from rapid, unexpected danger. It is ‘striking’ and completely unassuming, crafted from hardwood with an engraved sterling buckle and capped with a natural antler handle.
In similar fashion, lot 545 is a silver-tipped walking stick made from malacca and horn that conceals a 6-inch sterling silver switchblade bayonet at the top. For something a bit more intimidating, lots 449 and 450 each hide a full-length steel sword within their shafts. Aside from being a reliable way to keep enemies at bay, these blades likely served as fire pokers, animal prodders, and a useful tool for cleaning street mud from the soles of shoes and boots.
Lot 451, a late 19th-century horn-handled cane, provides a greater level of security with a small-gauge shotgun cleverly hidden inside its hardwood shaft. Depending on one's line of work or penchant for mischief, a sword or small blade might fail to offer sufficient protection or distance.
Perhaps a bit less discreet, lot 454 features a miniature (18.5-inch) ‘swagger stick’ with a single-shot pistol as its handle. Swagger sticks are short walking sticks or pointers that primarily symbolize authority in military contexts. This one would have no trouble getting the attention of a squadron. Swagger sticks were also used by affluent civilians in the early to mid-20th century as fashion accessories or status symbols.
For an added layer of protection, lot 541 features a 2-for-1 combination. This late 19th-century malacca walking stick conceals a small-caliber ‘pepperbox’ (four-shot) pistol and a 5.25-inch steel blade within its shaft.
For those less concerned with protection and more interested in "taking the edge off," many clever gadget cane designs provided a discreet way to indulge in personal vices. Lot 448, for instance, helped its bearer endure long sermons with a cleverly hidden 17-inch flask inside. Lot 540 is designed to curb another vice: addiction to nicotine. Unsuspectingly, it is topped with an ornate silver ball featuring a man's head with a small door on the side that leads to a ‘snuff box’. Snuff was powdered tobacco that became popular in the 17th century. It was commonly inhaled through the nose and enjoyed by many as a fashionable alternative to smoking.
Everyone loves a secret and these intriguing canes have many to tell. They reflect not only the personalities of their owners and the needs of everyday people in an earlier era, but also the creativity and ingenuity of their makers. As we examine these remarkable objects and their design, we uncover the human desires that inspired them—protection, power, enjoyment, and, of course, a dash of mischief.
Story by Tess Malloy
Tess is a freelance writer and history enthusiast who enjoys unearthing interesting stories about remarkable people and objects. Tess has written for The Miller Times for six years.
Sale Details:
November 9, 2024
Canadiana, Toys & Historic Objects Featuring the Phil Barnett Collection
Miller & Miller Live Webcast Auction | 9am EST
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