Dog Cane

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Circa 1900’s highly unusual cane in the form of a very folky wood carved dog adorned with a black painted tail, black patches of ‘hair’ throughout, carved eyes and mouth, with two buttons on the underside: one is a gravity fed button that allows the tail to rise and fall and the other button is a spring loaded mechanism that allows the front feet to move back and forth While simultaneously opening and closing the mouth to show the dog’s teeth, with the teeth and the claws on each paw fabricated from bone, red paper and leather wrap encircling the pine shaft, all in as found surface and excellent condition. 
 
This cane was made by Frederick ‘Fritz’ Baurichter (1850 – 1937) from Hermann, Missouri. He was a German immigrant who had experience carving as a gunsmith and was inspired by a visit to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair to try his hand at sculpture. He created small works as gifts, carving each with charm and a sophisticated sense of design. 37” tall; the dog is 10” long x 1.75” overall deep. 
Item 410.26
 
Link below shows a selection of his works from the Missouri Historical Society.
 
https://mohistory.org/search?text=fritz%20baurichter