Cane with Rattlesnakes and Snails

Ben Miller, Cane with Rattlesnakes and Snails, 1991, carved wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin, 1991.158.3
Copied Ben Miller, Cane with Rattlesnakes and Snails, 1991, carved wood, 36 3⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (92.4 x 14.9 x 5.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin, 1991.158.3

Artwork Details

Title
Cane with Rattlesnakes and Snails
Artist
Date
1991
Location
Dimensions
36 3⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (92.4 x 14.9 x 5.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved wood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — reptile — snake
  • Animal — other — snail
Object Number
1991.158.3
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1991.158.3

Artwork Description

Artists decorate canes with a wide variety of images, from traditional carvings of snakes and birds, to nude women, political figures, and celebrities. Some artists highlight the natural shape of the wood by applying relief designs onto twisted branches and roots, while others carve three-dimensional shapes into the shaft. Images of animals are the most popular decoration, but many canes also show patriotic, fraternal, and political themes. (George Meyer, American Folk Art Canes, 1992)