Humorous Canes
Our gentle leg pulling of Prince Karl has had lots of feedback. We are happy to publish two more cane jokes sent in by our readers. We share their images with you. Do please send us more!
Haut Couture and Grand Trappings
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/fr/
Under the esteemed patronage of the House of Chanel, there is currently an exhibition taking place at the Château de Versailles from 31 March to 28 June 2009, entitled Le costume de cour en Europe 1650-1800 (Court attire in Europe 1650-1800). Paris was the place to order your haut couture even in centuries past, and particularly if you happened to be a prince.
Austria’s Sceptre, Orb and Imperial Crown.
The Sceptre in Close Detail.
For those interested in the sceptre and its court settings, here is the perfect opportunity to investigate. No longer the everyday item it once was in ancient times or as familiar, today, as during the period covered by this fascinating exhibition, these works of ceremonial art remain as awe-inspiring as ever they were intended to be. The sceptre was and still remains an unquestionable symbol of worldly authority, exquisite beauty and superb craftsmanship.
The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross (92.2cm set with the Cullinan diamond (530 carat) made in 1661: British Crown Jewells)
The Versailles exhibition is part of their cycle about life at the royal court. Assembled trappings of splendour and majesty include magnificent items of apparel gathered from many grand palaces: Palazzo Pitti (Italy), Palà cio d’Ajuda (Portugal), Castle of Rosenborg (Denmark) and the Hermitage of Saint-Petersburg (Russia) to name but a few. There are objects from the Royal Collection (London), the Imperial Collection, (Vienna) Cologne Cathedral, and many more.
The sceptre dates back in history for as long as there have been men. That of the King of Persia is mentioned in the biblical Book of Esther.
A Roman Sceptre
First century statue of Jupiter in the Hermitage Museum.
‘Jupiter et Thétis’ (1811), Jean (Auguste Dominique) Ingrès (1780 –1867)
Do give us your feedback on this and any other of our featured exhibitions. We look forward to receiving your comments.
Prince Charles and Prince Karl
Prince Charles is a one-man testimony to the swagger stick, walking stick, cane, staff, umbrella and, of course, the polo stick. There are so many photos of him with a huge variety of items from our cane world, one wonders if he ever ventures forth without. He has always cut quite a swagger in all variety of climatic conditions and changes of outfit over the years. To the cane born!
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Dear Prince Karl, keep trying!
With a good cane, you could cut as much of a figure as you do with your fans. Allow us to dream…
James Smith & Sons
At the time that James Smith & Sons began what was to blossom into their legendary business in London, Queen Victoria had not yet acceded to the throne. King William lVth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (and Hanover) had a further seven years, until his demise (1837), firmly ensconced upon it.
King William lV
In 1830, the original Mr James Smith opened his first shop in Foubert Street, off Regent Street, in London’s West End.
The First Mr James Smith
His son, also James, was quite an entrepreneur. As well as moving their head quarters to New Oxford Street (1857) this young James opened six other businesses including a hatters’. Milliners made hats for ladies and hatters for gentlemen: a distinction worthy of note. His own grandson (the great grandson of the founder) opened a branch adjacent to Savile Row; premises destroyed in WWll.
Smith’s clientèle has always included dignitaries. William Gladstone, after whom the famous ‘Gladstone bag’ was named,
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The Gladstone Bag.
Lord Curzon (Viceroy of India, Foreign Secretary) and Andrew Bonar Law, the only British Prime Minister (to date) to have been born outside the British Isles (Canada), are but an aperçu.
The proximity to Savile Row had been an excellent idea. No English gentleman worthy of his salt frequented anywhere else for his bespoke tailoring. From Prince Charles
A Rather Rustic-Handled Favourite
to James Bond, the look was, and remains, unmistakeable (Daniel Craig has recently returned to the fold after an Italian parenthesis). In the first of the James Bond series, ‘Dr. No’ (1962), the CIA agent Felix Leiter asks Bond where he was fitted for his Walther PPK. Bond replies, “My tailor, in Savile Row.”
Bond (Sean Connery): The Ever-Well-Tailored British Secret Service Agent.
The English gentleman (secret service or other) had style and that applied equally to all his accessories as much as it did to the English lady and her own.
Steed (Patrick Macnee): The Celebrated 1960s TVSeries ‘The Avengers’.
Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn): ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)
James Smith & Sons: The Shop’s Sign.
In his book, ‘The Art Thief’, Noah Charney describes one of his elegant XXlst century characters thus (pages 26/7).
He strolled down the aisle, between rows of pews,
his umbrella clasped with two hands behind his
back. He was in the habit of over-dressing, and
invariably in the same clothes: three-piece suit,
Charles Tyrwhitt French cuff dress shirt. It was
what he liked. He liked spats, though he did not
often wear them. And bowler hats. And basset
hounds. And eating lobster without utensils, while
he ate chocolate bars with a knife and fork. And
his James Smith & Sons mahogany-handled
umbrella.
That just about says it all. James Smith & Sons has been a symbol of style for such a long time that it’s mark is more a way of life – a national institution.
For many years, the company specialised in the manufacture of ceremonial umbrellas, maces and military ‘swagger sticks’ (particularly during WWl). Until the 1920s, the cane or walking stick used to be a must for all well dressed gentlemen. We, at Cane News, encourage the return to such past glory. Jeans have had too long an innings. Standards have lowered and ‘casual’ has been chic far too long!
Smith’s premises in New Oxford Street are a tradition in themselves. A perfect example of Victorian shop front design, they have remained virtually unchanged, as the centuries have passed. Be sure to seek inspiration within their hallowed portals during your next tour of London.
The Epitome of Victorian Shop Font Design
The Impressive Doorway.
A Cornerstone of British Tradition.
