Cane with Alligator Handle

Tim Lewis, Cane with Alligator Handle, 1991, carved and painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin, 1991.158.4
Copied Tim Lewis, Cane with Alligator Handle, 1991, carved and painted wood, 37 3⁄4 x 7 3⁄4 x 3 3⁄4 in. (95.9 x 19.5 x 9.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin, 1991.158.4

Artwork Details

Title
Cane with Alligator Handle
Artist
Date
1991
Location
Dimensions
37 3⁄4 x 7 3⁄4 x 3 3⁄4 in. (95.9 x 19.5 x 9.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Ken and Donna Fadeley in honor of Robert H. Martin
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — reptile — alligator
Object Number
1991.158.4
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1991.158.4

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)