Fleischer's Auctions
Live Auction

Day 1: Historic & Early Americana

Fri, Apr 24, 2026 09:00AM EDT
  2026-04-24 09:00:00 2026-04-24 09:00:00 America/New_York Fleischer's Auctions Fleischer's Auctions : Day 1: Historic & Early Americana https://bid.fleischersauctions.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-1-historic-early-americana-20869
Day one of Fleischer's 2026 Spring premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography.
Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com
Lot 42

[SCRIMSHAW, NAUTICAL] Early Gold Cane w/ Ship Engravings

Estimate: $250 - $500
Current Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$100 $25
$300 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$50,000 $5,000

SCRIMSHAWED IV_RY-HANDLED CANE DEPICTING SAILING SHIPS AND SAILOR

 

T-handled lacquered wooden cane with a nautical scrimshawed iv-ry derby grip and a ferrule of dark horn or baleen. N.p., ca. 1800-1850. Overall approx. 36 1/2 in. long.

 

The 14k gold spacer is engraved with a presentation to "Samuel Pillsbury". Given the lack of a presentation date or middle initial and the absence of period reporting on a cane presented to a Samuel Pillsbury, it is unknown precisely who the intended recipient was. He may have been a member of the Pillsbury Family of Newburyport, Massachusetts, as, per the 1891 Account of the Proceedings at the Reunion of the Pillsbury Family at Newburyport, the Pillsburys presented a cane crafted from the timbers of their ancestral home to one Secretary E. L. Pilsbury, and a pair of Samuels Pillsbury were listed in other official positions in the same account. 

 

The head of the cane is intricately scrimshawed with a barque ship to the point, with another to the side at the valley, and, to the finial of the horn, with a sailor in a brimmed hat and jacket manning a steering wheel.

 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

 

[Canes, Walking Sticks, Walking Stick] [Scrimshaw, Scrimshander] [Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Navy, Naval History, Maritime]

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All packages valued at over $250 are shipped with a signature required upon delivery. All packages handled and shipped in-house by Fleischer's Auctions are not insured unless insurance is requested. Successful bidders who would like their packages insured are responsible for notifying us that this is the case and are responsible for paying the cost of insurance.