Cane

Unknown

ca. 1883 · wood, metal · Costume Institute

The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 was a major cultural and engineering landmark of New York history. The event was celebrated with much fanfare, including the sale of assorted souvenirs and memorabilia. The wood used for this walking stick is said to have come from the Brooklyn Bridge. The cane was donated to the Brooklyn Museum from a retirement home, with no specific history as to its history save the inscribed name and the anecdote about the wood. Despite this lack of documentation, the association with this historical event, whether true or false, demonstrates the importance of the event and the consequent desire to associate oneself with it through physical objects.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1883

Medium

wood, metal

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Miss M. Smyth, 1957