Walking Sticks 1935 - 1942

Kurt Melzer's "Walking Sticks", presents various carved figures on walking sticks. Note the contrast between the human figure dressed in European clothing alongside an Indigenous American. These carved figures are not merely decorative, they speak to cultural narratives, and power dynamics. The animal motifs—rabbits, birds, and what appears to be an alligator—hark back to ancient symbolic languages found across cultures. Take the rabbit, a symbol of fertility in many traditions, but also of vulnerability. Likewise, the alligator, often linked to primal power, reminds us of the cyclical nature of life and death, and how these symbols persist in our collective consciousness. We see the serpent motif recurring in other carved items in different eras, such as the staffs of power carried by priests and kings, and its constant resurfacing points to a primal, deeply embedded connection to transformation and knowledge. This image engages us on an emotional level, echoing the profound sense of connection to historical roots.