Pastoral Staff

"During the Middle Ages kingly power came to be symbolized by the scepter carried in the right hand, while a second staff or scepter known as the "Hand of Justice" was carried in the left. This scepter was surmounted by a hand in the act of blessing. In France, this custom of investing authority with two scepters dates from about 987 A.D. In England, during the latter part of the twelfth century, two scepters were bestowed upon Richard Coeur de Lion. "

"Not to be outdone, the Church, bestowed the staff as a symbol of authority upon its highest officers. Early in this period, the pastoral staff was a symbol of the bishop’s prestige, and by the sixth century it directly represented his supremacy as shepherd of his people. The oldest examples of pastoral staffs were long, with crooked handles. The crook signified the bishop drawing the believers to him, while with the point he urged on the indifferent. The judges and officers of this period also carried the staff as a symbol of office. As late as the seventeenth century, all who exercised authority – kings, priests, judges and military commanders – were represented with some type of staff indicative of the power each possessed." (Source: Accessories of Dress by Katherine Morris Lester and Bess Viola Oerke, The Manual Arts Press, Peoria Illinois, pp 389-90.)

Cane or Walking Stick ?

The word "cane" had not been applied to the fashionable walking stick up to the sixteenth century. During his period, however, the thick, jointed stems of tropical grasses known as bamboo and cane, and the reed-like stem of several species of palm and rattan were introduced for the stick. These were called "canes." From that day forth, the walking stick of the past merged into the cane of the future. Today the terms are used interchangeable, though the saying. "One strolls with a walking stick and swaggers with a Cane!" tend to give grater dignity to the former. (Source: Accessories of Dress by Katherine Morris Lester and Bess Viola Oerke, The Manual Arts Press, Peoria Illinois, pp 392.)

Items of Historical Interest

The Cane as an Accessory

A cane was an important accessory for a man from the late 17th century through the early 20th. A cane made of quality wood, with a silver or gold handle, told of wealth and importance. Cane shafts usually were made of wood, but some interesting examples were made of dried animal skin, animals' spinal columns or even glass.

Collectors search for canes from the past as well as modern folk canes. Canes with hidden features - a sword, a camera, a tiny picture or a bottle to hold a swallow of liquor- are popular with collectors. Cane handles have been made of silver, gold, bone, glass, porcelain, and other substances. Many were carved or decorated with special features, such as snakes, dogs, humans, hands, feet and the heads of famous people. One popular design was the eagle head. The protruding beak was an ideal shape. Many of the eagle heads were made with the beak holding a small round "berry", like a laurel berry.

Egyptian Staffs

Many discoveries in Egypt would indicate that sticks from three to six feet long were frequently carried by Egyptians of exalted rank. These were often surmounted by an ornamental knob resembling the lotus. Others which are very characteristic of Egyptian sticks, show a peg projecting from one side near the tip from which a bag or bottle could be suspended.!

Middle Ages

Travelers or pilgrims, shepherds, and tillers of the soil usually carried a long stick or staff as part of their daily equipment.. The pilgrim's bourdon of this period was a heavy stick five feet in length tipped with an iron spike which was intended to assist in walking and climbing.