Canes made of unusual materials

It is during the XIXth century that the cane becomes emancipated and liberated. Lions, Dandy, and Cocodès -Young men wearing in excess, overdrawn and ridiculous apparel -, always seeking originality, bear them proudly in all in vogue passage, abeting artisan to use unusual materials.

All parisian passage have at least one cane shop. In the begin of the XIXth century a faddish style requires that in the passage we stroll "Cane in Pocket".

From the hippopotamus skin to tortoise shell, from snake skin to woven wild grass trought the rhino horns, the papier maché and myriad of other materials all more eccentric and bizarre, here are some examples whitnessing wealth or originality. Among the gem of the gallery's archives, it was hard to select a thirtieth themes, which makes the first cycle of virtual exhibition on materials: "Canes made of unusual materials".

"Canes made of unusual materials" - Enter the exhibition's first room - The giant jersey cabbage cane OR look first the
Glossary of unusual materials - Glossary A - Z

The canes from its origin, where nearly all made, with one principal element, a wood shaft made of exotic or native wood. Most all of them have been used.

In the same way some canes are made with ivory, for the symbolic of the substance - whitness + hardness = Purity and might.