Friday, August 16, 2013

Unusual Artifacts: The St. Cloud Cane Handle, 1730-1740



Click on image to enlarge.
Cane Handle
Saint-Cloud Porcelain Factory
c. 1730
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Sorry gang, but I've got a busy day, so we'll have to wait until next week to have another of "Mr. Punch's Puzzles."  In the meantime, let's take a look at this.

This unusual cane handle is made of porcelain and takes the form of a man wearing a rather Punchinello-like cap. He is, in fact, quite like Mr. Punch in appearance.

The work of the Saint-Cloud Porcelain Factory, the handle is painted in enamels. It was made in France between 1730 and 1740 and is one of several similar cane handles in the collection of the V&A. All of them have lost their canes. 

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