Auction Reflections

I’m a stick-collecting fanatic. This is not an exaggeration. Ask any collector how they feel about their collection and you will hear much the same. Back in 1998 I had a chance encounter with the book Canes Through The Ages written by Francis Monek. And thus began my passion for sticks.

Canes Through The Ages Auction XIV was held on April 16, 2005 at Surgipath Medical Industries in Richmond, IL. CTA auctions occur bi-yearly, in fall and spring, and this auction marks the 13th consecutive CTA auction I’ve attended.

As with all CTA auctions, a cane preview is held between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. There are approximately 200 sticks lying side by side on tables in the small but adequately sized room filled with, by the time the auction begins, perhaps 40 people. During the preview period, any questions the prospective bidders may have regarding the items up for auction can be addressed to in-house cane expert, Youssef Kadri. Mr. Kadri, who published the prestigious German antique cane trade journal, Der Stocksammler, is responsible for the photographs, textual descriptions, and general layout of the beautifully appointed auction catalogue. A bit of eavesdropping on the exchange of banter over the tables during the preview quickly reveals a number of the attendees and bidders to be experts in their own right. I recognize many faces from prior auctions and the “regulars” greet and mingle with each other. The crowd is diverse. There are old collectors, new collectors, collectors from all walks of life. There are canes on auction to satisfy a variety of collections and budgets.

There is a palpable excitement in the room as guests examine the sticks during this time, and we do so, with great deliberation, comparing descriptions and pictures from the catalogue to the actual things of beauty. And beautiful they are! These are premier canes, and a wide variety is offered. There are carved ivories, jeweled handles, nautical sticks, and an assortment of gadget canes. Although the catalogue is extremely well done with absolutely gorgeous pictures, they cannot do these exquisite works of art the justice they deserve.

As the auction gets underway, wielding the gavel is licensed auctioneer, (and son of collector and author Francis Monek,) John Monek. While setting a brisk pace (canes are auctioned off approximately one every two minutes), John maintains an easy rapport with the bidders on the floor, adding to the conviviality of the auction’s overall atmosphere. The bidding often becomes quite lively, adding to the excitement in the room, with some canes going far above the auction estimates. Helpers are stationed at phones receiving phone bids and the auctioneer must factor in all bids on the pad on behalf of absentee bidders. Each cane in turn is brought to the front and the description read. Bidders are offered a final opportunity to examine the cane briefly before bidding begins. The bidding runs smoothly and on schedule. At the close of the auction, of the 209 items in the catalogue, approximately 50 canes remained unsold. In this spring’s auction, for the first time, unsold canes were re-opened for a second round of bidding for the benefit of those bidders who had passed up some sticks only to be disappointed by being outbid for a cane they were holding out for later in the auction. The stars of the show this spring were a finely carved marine cane with whalebone shaft from the mid 19th century and a French stick featuring a hard-stone smoky quartz figural handle in the style of Carl Faberge. Both fetched winning bids of over $11,000. But it’s not necessary to spend that kind of money to take home a cane from the CTA auction with several being sold for under $300.

I have learned many things about collecting, identification and assigning value from attending these auctions, and I hope to attend many more. I encourage others who are interested in the pursuit of fine antique canes to mark the October CTA auction date on their calendars.