Cane Curiosa: From Gun to Gadget - 1st Jan 2017

Think canes are only for those who need help walking? Think again. This book by Catherine Dike shows over 1600 different canes from museums and private collections across Europe and the US. 

From guns and swords to cigarette holders and fans, it seems you can make a cane into almost anything. There are canes with fishing rods, cameras, microscopes, lights, even firecrackers and air balloons. Feel you need a tune for your morning stroll? There are flutes and trumpets, guitars and violins. 

If you quite like the idea of a walking stick but don't actually like walking, there's a cane for that too - try a fold-out chair, a scooter, or even a bicycle.

Where you might buy one of these fabulous canes we aren't sure, but reading this book will certainly inspire you to find out - or maybe even invent one of your own.