Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Important Mid-19th Century Decorated Pokerwork Malacca Cane. The 80cm tapering shaft profusely and superbly decorated with British military personnel and notable occurrences. Commencing with an ornate double cross hatched band and laurels, a script capital ‘B’ followed by the post 1837 Royal Arms.
The mounted figures of Wellington and Blucher, this with the caption ‘The Duke of Wellington and Blucher at Waterloo’, the mounted and captioned figure of ‘Corpl Shaw of the Life Guards’, shown cutting down one of his eleven or so victims at Waterloo, another already dead lying near his charger. Shaw was later killed in the battle. The next displays the killing of Tippoo Sultan at Seringapatam 1799, he is depicted prostrate but with tulwar raised about to be clubbed with the butt of a musket, ‘The Death of Tippoo Saib’ (sic). Next, ‘The Death of Genl. Sir T. Picton’. Picton who had concealed his severe wound suffered at Quatre Bras on the 16th June was shot through the head on the 18th, he is shown slumped and falling from his horse. Beneath is the mounted Earl of Uxbridge correctly attired as a General Officer of Hussars about to lead a charge. The caption displays his ‘step’ in the peerage (July 1815), ‘The Marquis of Anglesey Charging at Waterloo’. Then the mounted figure of ‘Sir H. Smith’ (This subsequently famous soldier was a Brigade-Major at Waterloo in the rank of Captain and only created a Baronet in 1846 following his great success at Aliwal). ‘The 92nd Charging’, shows a kilted Highlander despatching sundry French infantrymen. Finally a mounted figure, ‘An Officer of the Siks’. (sic).The decorative band and laurels as described for the top is repeated.
The top of the cane is surmounted by a swollen baluster knop inlaid with a small bone ring. The overall length is 84cm.
The workmanship is of the highest quality throughout with quite wonderful and accurate uniform detail, particularly as the artist was working on a cylindrical format. Perhaps the only error is the soldier killing Tippoo, as he is wearing an 1816 pattern shako.
It is quite probable that the script capital ‘B’ relates to an army veteran.
Some slight detail fading to the last figure due to usage as a walking stick, a few minute surface cracks to the shaft and the brass ferrule a professional replacement, otherwise in remarkably good condition. £300-500