August 18 & 19, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/18/2020
This pyro-decorated battlefield-cut cane is illustrated on page 273 (right) of "Gettysburg Battlefield Relics & Souvenirs" by O'Donnell, Hazard, and Boardman, and comes from the Charles "Hap" Hazard collection. Souvenirs of the battle were gathered soon after it ended, and some perhaps while it was still going on. Canes cut from the various locations on the field were exhibited at fund raising "Sanitary Fairs" as early as 1864 and became desirable objects for veterans and visitors to the battlefield. This one was cut at or near "Devil's Den," the rocky ground on the left of the Union line fought over on July 2, 1863, and was flame decorated with its find-location and date, "1891." The handle of the cane is a separately affixed piece of wood carved to expose a bullet that lodged in it during the battle. The date is within the highpoint of visits to the field by veterans and dedications of regimental monuments. Battlefield-cut canes were among the many "useful and ornamental" historical relics available to the visitor. CONDITION: Excellent. SR
Item Dimensions: Length: 34 - 1/2".