Walking Sticks

The museum’s walking stick collection, like some of the other collections on display, came about by accident, has grown considerably in the meantime and is now a permanent exhibition.



The walking stick as we know it today has a long history. In the beginning, poles, weapons, supports and walking-aids were the same thing. During the course of time the walking stick also became a status symbol for men.; you only have to think of the bishop’s staff and the sceptres of kings and emperors which symbolised power. From the 17th century the walking stick became a fashion accessory, you wouldn’t go out without one. The splendid pieces confirm the high social status of their previous owners. By around 1930 the walking stick lost most of its meaning, not least because of the increase in mobility in the form of motor vehicles. It is not very practical to get in the car with a walking stick.

Along with the various materials out of which walking sticks were made, exceptional features and functions were hidden within them – the two pictures show:

Above: Walking stick in the shape of a hippo made from cut rock crystal with eyes made of ruby.

Right: Walking stick made from ebony with a built-in flute from Vienna (Austria) about 1880. This very rare stick still plays tunes.