American folk art cane, $26,880.

Ebony pique pomander cane, $24,640.

DANVERS, MASS. – On September 29, Henry Taron of Tradewinds Antiques held his autumn all-cane live auction at the King’s Grant Inn. The gross of $353,749 was the third highest ever for Tradewinds and the fourth straight sale that has exceeded $350,000, despite uneasy economic times. Additionally, a Tradewinds record for a single piece was set when a fine American Folk Art cane carved by Thomas Purkins in 1848 achieved $26,880.

It was the 18th such sale since 1993’s “America’s Premier Cane Auction House” and some strong prices were realized. A rare ebony pique pomander cane dated 1691 brought a very impressive $24,640. A Remington large doghead gun cane curio sold for $8,400, while President James Buchanan’s gold top cane made $6,720.

A California gold quartz cane reached $5,600 and Civil War General A.V. Rice’s three gold canes along with his family archives brought $5,320. A fine nautical cane with whale ivory and baleen on whalebone fetched $5,040 as did a gold Ronson cigarette lighter cane and a beautiful gold cane with agate inlay on a tortoiseshell veneer shaft. Several other pieces were in the $5,000, $4,000, $3,000 and $2,000 levels and collectors were able to find pieces in all price ranges.

All prices quoted include a 12 percent buyers premium.