A rare carved and inlaid whale ivory and whalebone walking stick, circa 1830, became the top lot of an action-packed Americana sale at Raphael Osona’s Americana auction this past Saturday, August 6. The first of five consecutive auctions for Osona throughout the month of August and Labor Day weekend, a huge standing-room-only crowd bid actively from the first lot to the last.

The rare walking stick featured an elaborate and well executed carved ivory fist clenching a snake that was coiled about the wrist. The whale bone shaft was further decorated with tortoiseshell panels and diamonds, mother of pearl hearts and wax inlaid harpoons.

A similar walking stick by the same carver established a record price paid at auction in 1994 at Osona’s at $49,000. The current example handily exceeded that, bringing $71,920, including premium.

A complete review of Osona’s Americana auction will appear in a future issue.

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