Style, Power, Obsession: Inside Anthony Moss’s World of Walking Canes

Anthony Moss doesn’t just collect walking sticks — he elevates them. With A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes, he delivers an unapologetically in-depth chronicle of objects that straddle the line between function and fashion, symbolism and swagger. It’s a book shaped by obsession, but built on scholarship — a connoisseur’s guide that positions the walking cane not as a relic, but as an enduring expression of style, power and identity.

From 17th-century pique work to Art Nouveau whimsy, Moss charts a course through centuries of social nuance and material mastery. Each chapter is steeped in research, yes — but it’s the personal pursuit of rarity, beauty, and design that gives this work its edge. This is collecting with purpose, and the story behind it is just as compelling as the canes themselves.

Anthony, for those who haven’t yet come across your book, how would you describe A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes without giving too much away?

 The book provides insight into collecting walking canes and is written for collectors, historians, and those beginning their journey to assemble a collection of antique walking canes. It offers a chronological overview from the digging stick, through the age of enlightenment, the Dandy era, to the present day.

Alternative View of the Book

A connoisseur’s guide, A Visual History of Walking Sticks and Canes offers a stunning, near-encyclopaedic overview of its subject through a focus on the singular. As a resolute rabologist (a student and collector of walking sticks), I begin with highlights from our collection and progress through typologically and thematically focused chapters. 

I approached the task with the passion of a collector and the dedication of an archaeologist, and a historian focused on a single subject on a global scale. Explanatory captions provide attributions and context for many of the illustrated objects. Abundant photographs give a tactile impression of walking-stick handles from all angles. The range of handle designs is impressive, from memento mori to popular literary figures. 

Let readers remember that the handle is part of a larger instrument, and I delineate the anatomy of walking sticks with precision. I argue persuasively for the walking stick as an art form closely allied with social performance, fashion, whimsy, pleasure, and power. 

Do you remember the moment this fascination with walking canes began — what first drew you in?

Collecting has always been my craving, starting at the tender age of 9, collecting books. Coming from an inherently poor working-class family, they had few personal possessions, so when we married 60 years ago, we bought Victorian furniture as it was cheap. In the '70s, their appetite expanded to encompass various antiques and collectables. 

In 1998, my wife Deanna made the mistake of buying me a few walking canes, and thus my passion as a Rabologist* began.

*Rabology' is the English term for the scientific study of walking sticks (ραβδί, or 'rabdi', the Greek for a stick or rod -- 'Rabology' is already reserved for the study of logarithms, using rods as counters); the 'Rabologist' is a collector or student of walking sticks.

At what point did collecting become something more — an obsession, even a calling?

The only way to gain knowledge as a dealer or collector is by handling items and speaking with other dealers. Yes, you will make many mistakes and buy fakes, but that is the best way to learn your trade. This method helps you develop an appreciation for true quality and craftsmanship and gain valuable experience.

Initially, I had little idea of what to collect and focused on craftsmanship and beauty. Over time, learning from two of my key dealers, Paul Meyer and Nellie Leson Smith, I understood what was best to collect and became more selective. 

Later, I searched for rarity, artistry, and missing examples to make the collection more representative of the range of walking canes produced over the centuries. This included items from the 15th century up to the 1940s and the present day.

In a way, collecting is like controlled hoarding, and it's an illness and an obsession. The thrill is the discovery, and as you wander around the Antique Fairs, your eyes are trained to only see Walking Canes. 

I am not motivated solely by acquiring the finest items but by discovering a rare specimen and a missing piece to complete the A&D Antique Walking Cane Collection. The excitement also stems from finding a cane that the seller has overlooked as a hidden gem.

Was a book always part of the plan, or did it take shape naturally over time?

The idea of drafting a book gradually took shape. I started collecting books on walking canes, partly to better understand the world of walking canes, but more specifically to appreciate the craftsmanship behind them. They are, in fact, miniature works of art, carved in wood, ivory, and cast in various materials such as silver, with exotic woods and malacca shafts.

Fortunately, I had images of the entire cane collection, which made writing a book possible, and that is now history.

How deep did the research go — and how far did you have to travel (literally or digitally) to tell this story properly?

Initially, I bought several Pique Canes, dated between 1650 and 1720, made by the Huguenots who settled in Soho and Spitalfields.

As part of my research, was on Social Correctness

"You wear a cane and walk with a stick".

"A man was not correctly attired if he didn't wear a Walking Cane".

Then, as a fashion item.

During the Art Nouveau era, there was a social fashion guideline that dictated a rustic cane made of gnarled wood with a leather braid should be worn in the morning but not after 10 a.m. Wearing such a cane after this time would discredit one's taste. For business and visits, a day cane was carried. However, if a man wished to appear fashion-conscious, he would wear a pistol grip cane with an ivory knob; the shaft was made of tropical wood with a square cut. An evening theatre cane would be suitable, crafted from precious wood and featuring a slim, straightforward ivory knob.

Should a man wish to display finesse, a rhino horn handle was the ultimate prize, as they were both rare and costly. During this period, sculpted heads, rounds, or operas were passé, as they had lost their appeal by then. 

One traditional model still in use is the crutch or crook, which may be held securely or hung from the arm when lighting a cigarette.

I was also fortunate to discover Walking Cane Patients. These are linked to the mid-Victorian era and the Industrial Revolution, providing me with more details on Gadget Canes. 

The research is never-ending and still fascinates me today. You never stop the thirst for knowledge.

Why do you think walking canes continue to hold such allure, not just as antiques, but as cultural and style artefacts?

Walking Canes paints a picture of a bygone era when 'the cane was king', simulating an age only film, theatre, literature, and imagination can re-create. It is exciting to explore how the Cane played such an essential role in Fashion. 

From the beginning, through the emergence of haute couture, through the Jazz Age and then through many years of austerity, culminating with the Second World War, the Cane has held sway. 

Surprisingly, even today, the walking Cane has retained its magic and is used in theatre, fashion shows and by more flamboyant dressers or dandies.

In a collection that spans centuries, what makes a particular cane stand out to you?

I have a few canes that each time I look at them, I marvel at the sheer beauty and skill that made them. Then there are canes that have provenance and mark historical events that were noted by the media.

When you’re sourcing a new piece, what do you look for? What’s your personal benchmark for something truly collectable?

Sorry to admit that I am still purchasing canes. My criteria are rarity, beauty, and a can that adds depth to the A&D Antique Walking Cane Collection. For example, I have just bought six beautiful Vienna bronze walking sticks from an old collection. All of them are hallmarked with Franz Bergan’s cartouche. Exceedingly rare.

You’ve spent decades immersed in the world of walking sticks — what did you still have to learn while writing this book?

The key problem is putting words into a printable form. Plagiarism is the main problem, and besides having a copywriter, I invested in Grammarly and Plagiarism Checker X, which were invaluable, and I still use them today.

What’s the response been like from collectors and readers? Have any reactions taken you by surprise?

Since launching the book, I have received international recognition as an expert. Each week, I am contacted by collectors and individuals who have inherited canes and want to know their value and provenance. Sometimes they seek advice because they wish to dispose of their collection.

Would you describe yourself as a collector first, or more of a historian with a collector’s curiosity?

Collecting has always been my craving, starting at the tender age of 9, collecting books. Coming from an inherently poor working-class family, they had few personal possessions, so when we married 60 years ago, we bought Victorian furniture as it was cheap. In the '70s, our appetite expanded to encompass various antiques and collectables. 

In the 1970s, I became fascinated with writing instruments, nibs, pencils, and early pens. I was a Founder Member of the WES - The Writing Equipment Society, founded by Phillip Pool – The Penman – Drury Lane. 

However, I love history and remain fascinated by early man's development to the first manned flight and our journey to Mars.

For someone just starting out — what’s your most honest advice? Where should they begin, and what should they avoid?

For young or novice collectors, the primary advice is to focus on quality rather than quantity—a carefully chosen selection of 15 excellent walking canes is far more valuable than a large collection of inferior pieces. You can assemble a collection of 30 to 40 walking canes affordably, as most cost less than a few hundred pounds each at antique fairs.

Gadget Walking Canes may be counterfeit and not authentic.  Unless the contents are practical or intended as a presentation piece, collectors should be cautious and avoid purchasing without proper attribution. Over time, a collector can recognise the authentic from the counterfeit. genuine article.

When did this project stop being a concept and start becoming a real book? How long did it take to bring it to life?

It took me over four years to write and publish, and it was a very costly experience. There were more than 58 photo sessions, and I also paid the publication fees, while being limited by how many images the Publisher allowed. Luckily, I had a fantastic copywriter and excellent support from the Publisher’s Team.

Is there a sequel in the works — or another area of your collecting life you’re planning to explore in print?

In the eighteenth century, to communicate, the traveller needed to carry a wide range of accessories, including pens, ink wells, letter balances, stamps, seals, sealing wax, and a burner. The solution to all their letter-writing needs was John Sheldon’s Patent Pocket Escritoire.

The next Book is Antique Writing Instruments, as I have the best collection of John Sheldon Escritoires and instruments, plus Sampson Mordan Pencils and Nibs, marking the start of universal literacy dating from the 1830s to the present day.

Moss is a collector who deals in detail — not for the sake of hoarding, but to preserve the artistry often missed at first glance. His eye is sharp, his standard high, and his instinct for rarity honed by decades at the heart of antique fairs and private collections. For him, walking canes aren’t ornamental extras — they’re extensions of character, coded with cultural intent.

And while his cane collection might span the centuries, his vision is firmly forward. With his next project already underway — a study of antique writing instruments — Moss is once again setting his sights on craftsmanship worth remembering. This isn’t just collecting. It’s legacy work.