Tiffany Creation Leads All-Cane Auction

California gold quartz cane, $10,604.

DANVERS, MASS. - Henry Taron of Tradewinds Antiques and Auctions conducted an autumn all-cane sale at the King's Grant Inn. A gross of $350,644 resulted in the firm's second sale in 2000 to exceed $350,000 and it did so with 11 less lots than the first. All items presented were sold.

It was the 16 such sale for this stellar all-cane auction house since 1993 and some very strong prices were realized. An ivory ball Tiffany can with inlaid cabochons of mother-of-pearl brought $16,240, and was the leading lot. A California gold quartz cane with interesting provenance fetched $10,604 and a circa 1850 Austrian violin cane was hammered down at $10,360.

Austrian violin cane, $10,360.

The gallery established a new world's record by selling a Remington small dog head gun cane curio at $8,568, breaking the old $7,000 mark previously set by Tradewinds in April of 1999. Another Tiffany cane of a faceted agate ball with sterling mounts brought $8,400 while a third Tiffany example fashioned as a large sterling eagle achieved $7,000. A fluted rock crystal cane with 49 rubies set in gold brought $7,280.

Other leaders were an ivory automaton mule that brought $5,936, a large ivory elephant holding a log that made $5,880 and a 1698 English ivory pique cane that fetched $5,040. Several other pieces reached the $4,000 and $3,000 range.

Canes were offered in all categories: decorative, historical, figural, nautical, gadgets, folk art, etc and collectors found items available in all price ranges.

All prices quoted include a 12 percent buyers premium.