LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Civil War Auction #674  / 

72351

Confederate Folk Art Presentation Walking Stick

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,700.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Confederate Folk Art Presentation Walking Stick
<B>Confederate Folk Art Presentation Walking Stick</B></I> 34.25” length overall, fashioned from a hickory branch, with an inscribed 11.5” swallow-tailed banner along the shaft reading, “<I>C.S.A. Moorman Tenn. From A. J. Phelps Va.</B></I>”, the other side features an animated scene of seven hounds chasing a buck towards a hunter kneeling behind a tree, the cane’s handle is draped with a life-size carved hickory leaf and terminates in an applied brass disc. <BR><BR>The inscription on this cane provides just enough information to associate it with the Civil War. Further interpretation of its meaning can only remain speculation at best. An Andrew Jackson Phelps was indeed on the rolls of Co. “G”, 57th Virginia Infantry for three years until the surrender at Appomattox. His regiment, however, never saw service in Tennessee as it belonged to George Pickett’s Division. To further complicate matters, one must wonder if “<I>Moorman</B></I>” refers to an individual or to a forgotten Tennessee hamlet. There were several Tennesseans having that surname who served the Confederate cause, however they fought in the Western Theatre and would not have had official contact with the Army of Northern Virginia. So, it is unlikely that a Virginia Phelps would have befriended a Tennessee Moorman on the field. Is this, then, a POW item, given to a bunkmate? Possibly. A Lt. Moorman was captured, although A. J. Phelps appears to have avoided that inconvenience. Finally, one must consider the possibility that this cane could be a gift from one United Confederate Veteran to another. There certainly were an ample number of reunions after the war in which a Virginian could make new friends from afar. Regardless of the circumstances behind this item, it is a wonderful piece of folk carving in its own right and is deserving of further research.<BR><BR><B>Condition:</B></I> The stick remains quite solid with only a few minor age cracks, the whole enjoying a rich, deep patina except for the very tip which would have originally been encased in metal. A few spots of white paint inadvertently landed on the piece long ago. Overall fine condition.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Bats, Clubs, Sticks, Swords, Rif (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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