More about the History of Walking Canes
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Continuing the interesting study of the history of walking canes, we find ourselves in the late 17th century.
In these times it was very common that ribbons were used on the handles of walking canes. Also the height of every day walking canes had been reduced to around 3 feet. Before this time, walking canes and walking sticks were much taller. Think of a shepherd’s staff or the scepter’s used in Catholic ceremonies. The only people who were still using longer canes were dandies, whose canes were decorated with a great number of ribbons. (This came from the dandy’s philosophy and love for style and opulence. For a great overview of dandies see BohemianBooks.com.au.)
Before the middle of the 18th century, the sword was a necessary fashion accessory. It could be used to defend the wearer, and it was a required piece of the outfit a gentleman was wearing. However, as time wore on and guns became the weapon of choice for those needing to defend themselves, swords became less important, and in the mid-18th century, they started to be replaced with walking canes as the fashion accessory every man must wear. The change was gradual, but eventually walking sticks replaced swords as a sign of refinement and style.
The transition took some time, but by the end of the 19th century walking sticks had totally replaced the sword, becoming the necessary fashion accessory a man wouldn’t leave the house without. But more change was just around the corner.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the use of umbrellas steadily pushed the walking stick out of fashion. Early 20th century fashion dictated that walking sticks were only used for very formal events. Even today, canes are used for formal events by people young and old. Proms, homecomings, commencements, weddings, and other formal events are where one might see canes being worn as a fashion statement.
Canes for the blind were not used extensively until the 20th century. The white cane became the symbol for the blind after a great many years. James Biggs lost his sight and painted his cane white to make himself visible to motorists in 1921. It was not until the mid 20th century that the white cane had been cemented as the symbol of the blind and October 15th declared White Cane Safety Day by Lyndon B. Johnson.
From the late 17th century to all the way up to the early 20th century wearing a cane was a fashion requirement for a man. A cane made of excellent materials, silver or gold handles for example, would inform a passerby about the man’s station in life, his wealth, occupation even, and societal value. Wood was the most commonly used material for the construction of walking cane shafts, but some canes were made using leather, animals' spines or even glass so as to make their canes shaft more attractive and attention-getting. Walking canes played a vital role in times gone by, including:
Tags: walking canes, walking canes history
In these times it was very common that ribbons were used on the handles of walking canes. Also the height of every day walking canes had been reduced to around 3 feet. Before this time, walking canes and walking sticks were much taller. Think of a shepherd’s staff or the scepter’s used in Catholic ceremonies. The only people who were still using longer canes were dandies, whose canes were decorated with a great number of ribbons. (This came from the dandy’s philosophy and love for style and opulence. For a great overview of dandies see BohemianBooks.com.au.)
Before the middle of the 18th century, the sword was a necessary fashion accessory. It could be used to defend the wearer, and it was a required piece of the outfit a gentleman was wearing. However, as time wore on and guns became the weapon of choice for those needing to defend themselves, swords became less important, and in the mid-18th century, they started to be replaced with walking canes as the fashion accessory every man must wear. The change was gradual, but eventually walking sticks replaced swords as a sign of refinement and style.
The transition took some time, but by the end of the 19th century walking sticks had totally replaced the sword, becoming the necessary fashion accessory a man wouldn’t leave the house without. But more change was just around the corner.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the use of umbrellas steadily pushed the walking stick out of fashion. Early 20th century fashion dictated that walking sticks were only used for very formal events. Even today, canes are used for formal events by people young and old. Proms, homecomings, commencements, weddings, and other formal events are where one might see canes being worn as a fashion statement.
Canes for the blind were not used extensively until the 20th century. The white cane became the symbol for the blind after a great many years. James Biggs lost his sight and painted his cane white to make himself visible to motorists in 1921. It was not until the mid 20th century that the white cane had been cemented as the symbol of the blind and October 15th declared White Cane Safety Day by Lyndon B. Johnson.
From the late 17th century to all the way up to the early 20th century wearing a cane was a fashion requirement for a man. A cane made of excellent materials, silver or gold handles for example, would inform a passerby about the man’s station in life, his wealth, occupation even, and societal value. Wood was the most commonly used material for the construction of walking cane shafts, but some canes were made using leather, animals' spines or even glass so as to make their canes shaft more attractive and attention-getting. Walking canes played a vital role in times gone by, including:
- Supporting the wearer while he was walking
- A symbol of power
- A mode of fashion
- Maintain animals in a good order
- A weapon of both self-defense and aggression.
Tags: walking canes, walking canes history
posted by Swciii | 5/27/2006 12:02:00 PM
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