Walking stick handle c. 1880 - 1890

bapstetfalize

3d sculpting

3d printed part

rounded shape

jewelry design

sculptural image

curved arc

unrealistic statue

3d shape

wash background

vessel shaped image

This walking stick handle, crafted by the French design firm Bapst et Falize, is a fine example of Art Nouveau style. Dating from roughly 1880-1890, this handle features a detailed silver-plated serpent wrapped around the handle, with the head of the snake appearing to swallow a small mouse, all crafted in intricate detail. This decorative handle is characteristic of the aesthetic of the Art Nouveau movement, which sought to incorporate naturalistic motifs and asymmetrical forms.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

⋮

Close examination of this walking stick handle reveals the interwoven figures of a rat and a snake, both of which appear in the Japanese zodiac. The French silversmith drew his inspiration from Japanese netsukes, the carved toggles on kimono sashes. Netsukes could be made of many different materials. They were enthusiastically collected in France from 1860 onward.