Handvat van hout, waaraan een gebogen knop van zwart hoorn, eindigend in een hondenkop van beige hoorn c. 1900 - 1930

This walking stick, by an artist known as Gelria, is constructed from wood and horn. I'm always fascinated by process, and I wonder what it was like to carve that dog's head from the beige horn? Did Gelria have a dog by their side the whole time, as they worked? The dog looks like a fox terrier, or perhaps a Jack Russell; there's a real sense of character in the animal's expression. It's curious to think that an everyday object like a walking stick can be elevated to an art object, through the artistry and skill of the maker. I think of the Arts and Crafts movement, and the desire to create beauty in functional objects. Ultimately, this simple object reminds us of the conversations and exchanges of ideas across time. Every artist is inspired by and builds upon the work of those who came before.