Antique Chinese Dragon Cane with Free-Moving Ball – 19thC Carved Hardwood Walking Stick – Foo Dog Cane with Metal Tip, 92cm

An exceptional 19th-century Chinese hand-carved hardwood walking cane featuring a fierce Foo Dog or dragon head handle — with an extraordinary detail: a free-moving wooden ball carved within its open mouth. Too large to have been inserted post-carving, this intricate “trick ball” demonstrates the immense skill and precision of traditional Chinese artisans, often associated with “devil’s work” or puzzle carvings.

The full-length cane measures approximately 92cm and is carved from richly grained hardwood with a deep reddish-brown patina. Flowing dragon-scale and feather-like designs continue down the shaft, culminating in a traditional metal ferrule.

The expressive head, carved in-the-round, features bold eyes, stylised mane, flared nostrils, and open jaws — where the free-spinning ball adds a sense of life and movement.

This is not only a walking cane but a collector’s piece of cultural art — ideal for display, gifting, or collecting. Natural surface wear, minor age-related splits, and scuffs are visible but do not detract from its integrity or beauty.

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