Cane In Cast Silver, Chiseled With Dragons And Bats. China Or Vietnam Late 19th Century.

Dragon cane in cast silver and gold. Vietnam 19th century. Cast solid silver cane. Very high relief decoration of 2 dragons and 2 bats surrounded by clouds, the carvings are precise. On the side the Chinese character "Shou" is inlaid in gold. The background is chiseled with amati. It is rare to find a cane of this excellent quality in solid cast silver, usually this type of cane being made of simply embossed silver. Dragons' legs have 5 claws (ancient imperial characteristic), one dragon is larger than the other (teaching), bats are in pairs (happiness), and the Chinese character "Shou" means longevity. All highly symbolic attributes. Power, knowledge, happiness and longevity. The barrel is made of pretty, precious hardwood. There is no tip, non-slip rubber is required for functional use. Length: 825mm Width: 108mm