Antiques Roadshow Walking Canes

[Paul_Guraedy]

I was watching the Antiques Roadshow at Witchita Kansas tonight. There were two walking sticks by a "non famous" woodcarver in the late 1800s. They were carved 20 years apart and showed the progression of this individuals progression as an artist. The canes were nicely carved but not spectacular. But, they were given an estimated value between $20 and $25,000! I think you can look up the Antiques Roadshow on the internet and see this segment of the show.

[Nomad]

I saw one of the Wichita shows but must have missed that one. One thing I noticed in general on AR is that early folk art fetches a premium price, and often the artist is unknown.

[Dicky]

I caught that one last night. The second stick was something else and so was the evaluation.

[carvingbarn]

100 years from now our canes will be worth some real money!

[FreeMan08]

Hello Paul
I watched the show also, and thought the canes were great. I was shocked to hear one was worth $25,000. I also was surprised to see they only valued the other one at $20. I would think even an un-carved plain wood cane would be worth more than that. It was nice to see that folk art carvings are being appreciated, and are given the value they deserve. Thanks for posting.
regards
Ed

[Paul_Guraedy]

Like the old joke goes, a woodcarver receives news from his commission shop, "I got good news and bad news." The carver says, "Whats the good news?" The dealer said, "I sold all of your carvings." The carver then asks, "What in the world could be bad news then?" The shop owner says, "Your doctor bought them all!"

[Tom Taylor]

You guys got me thinking. So I used the trusty internet. I live in Maryland, and sometime Auction will list old caving by a name Frank Feathers.

I thought it was "Flowers" which lead me to this article.
Opfer's Cane Collection

But there was Link to Mr. Feathers info.

At the bottom of the page. Good reading!

[cannuckcarver]

Super...thanks for sharring..

[Lazy Carver]

Thanks for the Info Paul! I remember watching an episode where they showed not 2, but 3 walking sticks. I believe it was brought in by 2 sisters. When the 1 sister found out the value to be nearly 70k. She got real emotional... It was a touching episode, as the canes were in the family lineage! One cane i recollect had a puzzle carved into it! All 3 were top to bottom carved! Wonderful and motivational episode...