Tradewinds Hosts 21st All-Cane Auction

Remington ball-and-claw gun cane curio, $15,680.

DANVERS, MASS. - Tradewinds conducted its third all-cane live auction at the King's Grant Inn on September 28. It was the 21st such event for America's premier cane auction house and it produced many highlights despite uneasy economic times.

The sale leader was a rare Remington ball and claw gun cane curio that brought $15,680.

Whale ivory seagull cane with baleen shaft, $12,320.

Other highlights included a whale ivory seagull on an all baleen shaft that fetched $12,320. A cased all ivory cane, with gold and diamond mounts, brought $9,520, while an architectural nautical with a carved whale ivory Turk's head knot made $9,240.

A 1691 English pique piece achieved $7,840, as did a 1711 English pique pomander cane. An ivory phrenology cane in pristine condition fetched $5,600, and a Continental ivory piece of two lovers made $4,480.

A music box and a rare Ronson cigarette lighter each achieved $4,480.

Several other pieces fell in the $4,000, $3,000 and $2,000 range. Eight of the 201 lots offered failed to sell. The event grossed $311,836.

All prices quoted include a 12 percent buyer's premium.