Early 20th Century Novelty Walking Stick w/ Expressive Bulldog Head - 34¼"

A whimsical early 20th-century novelty walking stick, likely French, this piece pairs a slender, honey-toned bamboo shaft with a finely carved bulldog head handle in bone or horn whose bulging glass eyes lend it lively, expressive charm. Beneath the carving sits a simple brass collar and a silver-tone ferrule at the tip, each showing the gentle, timeworn patina of age, with minor marks to the bamboo, and small nicks to the carving. These aged touches are typical of pieces crafted in the early 20th century, when a cane was both an indispensable accessory and a style marker for fashionable men. Workshops throughout Europe delighted in animal subjects, pairing glass-eyed creatures with bamboo shaped by Japonisme trends, much like the spirited bulldog captured in this example. Two little holes just below the handle were likely intended for securing a dragonne cord, now missing.

Personable and expressive, this stick lends a playful dandy touch to an entry hall stand or becomes an engaging standalone accent in a library. Pair its warm bamboo and brass with rattan, campaign furniture, and patinated metals for layered texture. It suits a gentleman’s dressing room, a country house mudroom, or any dog‑lover’s vignette on a console or wall‑mounted cane rack.