The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

18th- and 19th-Century Walking Sticks from the Hermitage Collection

Walking stick made from a narwhal tusk

Late 18th - early 19th century

Russia, St Petersburg

Length 96 cm

This stick, made of a highly unusual twisted narwhal tusk, has a carved ivory handle attached by a metal ferrule. The handle takes the form of a man's hand wearing a wedding ring and squeezing a fantastic creature with the head of a lion. The upper part of the stick is stamped with the maker's mark: CRAMER, ST PETERSBURG. Cramer worked in the Russian capital, making walking sticks, tobacco pipes, chibouques and other items.
Belonged to the Princes Yusupov