Bonhams Presents the Final Masterpieces of the Eddi Van Auken Cane Collection

A walking stick is rarely just a walking stick. In the hands of the late San Francisco collector Eddi Van Auken, it was a canvas, a sculpture, and a defiant statement of style. Bonhams New York will present The Eddi Van Auken Cane Collection: Masterpieces, a landmark auction offering 97 rare lots that represent the pinnacle of a thirty-year curatorial journey.

The sale serves as a poignant tribute to Van Auken (1946–2024), whose entry into the world of antique canes began with a twist of fate. Following a tailbone injury, she found herself unimpressed by the utilitarian, clinical options available at local pharmacies. Refusing to sacrifice aesthetics for necessity, she sought a walking aid that offered dignity. That initial search ignited a lifelong passion for what she termed “vertical art,” leading to one of the most significant private collections in the United States.

A Final Anthology

This auction is inextricably linked to Van Auken’s final scholarly contribution, Masterpieces: The Eddi Van Auken Collection of Antique Walking Sticks and Canes. Completed shortly before her passing, the book documents the very items now heading to the block. For collectors, this provenance offers a unique opportunity: the chance to own a piece that is not only historically significant but has been immortalized in the canon of collecting literature. The 97 lots on offer span centuries and continents, showcasing virtuoso craftsmanship in gold, silver, enamel, and semi-precious stones.

Highlights of the Sale

Among the “vertical art” expected to draw spirited bidding are three standout examples that illustrate the breadth of the collection:

The Secessionist Jewel: A star of the catalogue is the Austro-Hungarian Secessionist Cane (circa 1907), designed by the iconic Josef Hoffmann. A testament to the Wiener Werkstätte movement, which sought to unify pure art with functional design, this piece features a rock crystal handle accented with diamonds and lapis lazuli. It is a masterpiece of geometric elegance. (Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000)

The Serpent in Silver: From the celebrated House of Bolin—jewelers to the Russian Imperial Court—comes a Swedish Diamond Inset Silver Niello Snake Cane (circa 1919). The handle features a snake winding through the design, a motif historically associated with wisdom and eternal renewal, rendered here with exquisite niello work and diamond accents. (Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000)

The Art Deco Icon: Representing the glamour of the Jazz Age is a Tiffany & Co. Art Deco Cane (circa 1935). This piece moves away from ornate classicism toward sleek modernity, utilizing striking cobalt glass against cool sterling silver. It captures the architectural ambition of 1930s New York in the palm of a hand. (Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000)

A Legacy of Discernment

“This sale offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the culmination of Van Auken’s three-decade collecting journey,” a Bonhams representative noted. It is an unprecedented occasion to acquire works that define a lifetime of passion. From the whimsical to the architectural, the Eddi Van Auken collection proves that even the most functional objects can be elevated to high art. The auction takes place live at Bonhams New York on December 8.