Knop van zwart hoorn, eindigend in een hondenkop van beige hoorn c. 1900 - 1930

This knob of black horn, ending in a beige horn dog's head, presents us with an intriguing convergence of form and symbolism. The dog, a motif deeply embedded in the human psyche, appears here not merely as decoration, but as a guardian, a loyal companion at the threshold. Across millennia, the dog has been revered and feared; from Cerberus guarding the gates of Hades to Anubis guiding souls in ancient Egypt. Note the contrast between the dark shaft and the lighter head, a visual reminder of the dog’s duality. The dog is often associated with fidelity, vigilance, and the hunt. However, its image mutates and adapts, surfacing as symbols of protection, as seen in medieval heraldry, and also as emblems of primal instinct and untamed desires. The persistence of the dog as a powerful symbol suggests a primal need for connection, a yearning for loyalty in an ever-shifting world. This humble cane handle touches upon humanity's complex relationship with nature, loyalty, and our own animal nature.