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Though this group is
relatively uncommon amongst the stanhopes there are several types of canes
that can be considered more common. One particular example is a 3 piece
wooden stick that screws together. The top compartment holds a glass
inkwell while the other pieces contain a pencil & dip pen. Another
variation of this cane has several glass flasks & a small drinking glass
housed inside. The stanhopes used in these sticks were placed in the top
(handle)....and often showed a nude image. This cane was loaded with
secrets. These canes were of modest quality as were others that were
little more than a hewn tree branch with a stanhope stuffed in a hole in
the shaft. However, there were certainly high quality stanhope canes
available too. These include carved figural canes using materials like
horn & ivory. An interesting example from this category is a strangely
twine wrapped swagger stick with three separate stanhopes place vertical
along the shaft. There is even an example showing 5 stanhopes pictured in
"cane curiosa" by Catherine Dike.
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