Walking Stick
1740-1759 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This walking stick has been decorated using the intricate technique of piqué which was perfected in Paris in the 18th century. It required skilled craftsmen to inlay turtle shell (now known as tortoiseshell) with tiny gold pins (known as piqué point) or strips of gold in shallow grooves (piqué posé).
The stick is made of marbled tortoiseshell with a small knob of black tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold pins (piqué point) forming a geometric foliage pattern. It would have been much prized as an elegant accessory for the fashionably-dressed gentleman.
The stick is made of marbled tortoiseshell with a small knob of black tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold pins (piqué point) forming a geometric foliage pattern. It would have been much prized as an elegant accessory for the fashionably-dressed gentleman.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tortoiseshell, inlaid, gold, brass, steel |
| Brief description | Walking stick, tortoiseshell, the head decorated with gold pique, the ferrule brass, France, early 18th century |
| Physical description | Stick of light coloured tortoishell, of circular section at the top becoming flat about two thirds of the way down. Small flat knob of black tortoishell inlaid with geometrical foliage. Below the knob is an eyelet for the missing cord. Tapering brass ferule shod with steel. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Silver Gallery:
This walking stick is made of marbled tortoise shell with a small knob of black tortoise shell, inlaid with gold pins forming a geometrical foliage pattern. When held to a light tortoiseshell is translucent.(26/11/2002) |
| Credit line | Griffin Bequest |
| Object history | Acquisition RF: 60/2897 Griffin Bequest |
| Production | Maker unidentified |
| Summary | This walking stick has been decorated using the intricate technique of piqué which was perfected in Paris in the 18th century. It required skilled craftsmen to inlay turtle shell (now known as tortoiseshell) with tiny gold pins (known as piqué point) or strips of gold in shallow grooves (piqué posé). The stick is made of marbled tortoiseshell with a small knob of black tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold pins (piqué point) forming a geometric foliage pattern. It would have been much prized as an elegant accessory for the fashionably-dressed gentleman. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.197-1960 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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