Majolica Cane and Umbrella Stands

Some of the most glorious examples of majolica available to the collector today are majolica umbrella and cane stands. 

Wedgwood Lincoln umbrella stand

The large size of these pieces allowed manufacturers the luxury of creating pieces of great detail and stunning design. Most of the large potteries created such pieces, often in patterns familiar to the average collector from tableware. Any lover of majolica is bound to adore these pieces for their look alone, ignoring the utilitarian function for which they were created. They also never fail to make a statement.

Victorian men and women of taste often walked with a decorative canes, but canes as walking devices go back thousands of years. Originally designed to assist in walking, canes became a status symbol to denote power as far back as the ancient Egyptians. One of most elegant examples of ancient walking sticks is in one of the pieces found in Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb.

Tutankhamen was buried with numerous walking sticks, but great rulers have for centuries carried sticks as symbols of their power. In the 17th century it became fashionable for people to carry elaborate canes as a regular part of their attire. This fashion peaked in the late Victorian age, so naturally they needed somewhere to store these, hence the potteries came to their rescue.

The history of umbrellas is a bit more recent, but not much. Parasols preceded umbrellas as a convenient way to protect oneself from the sun. Although these too go back to ancient Egypt, the Chinese were the first to waterproof their parasols with wax to protect from the rain. Like canes, umbrellas were considered a status symbol and were carried as a way of denoting one’s wealth. It wasn’t until the 16th century that umbrellas became more common. Around the 18th century umbrellas became a necessity among civilized  folk. Never one to pass up an opportunity to make a profit, all manner of manufacturers made stands to house umbrellas when not in use.

Let’s take a look at some of these designs. Both English and Continental companies did ingenious things. Let’s start with the English.

Minton heron cane stand

Minton crane cane/umbrella  stand

George Jones umbrella/cane stand

George Jones daisy majolica umbrella/cane stand

Wedgwood Argenta St. Louis umbrella/can stand

Wedgwood majolica Fan cane stand

Wedgwood majolica Kate Greenaway umbrella/cane stand

Wedgwood Fan umbrella/cane stand

Wedgwood majolica sunflower and lily umbrella/cane stand

Wedgwood majolica umbrella stand

Wedgwood fruit umbrella/cane stand

Fielding majolica ostrich umbrella/cane stand

Fielding Argenta heron umbrella/cane stand

Fielding majolica Fan umbrella/cane stand

Fielding Hare umbrella/cane stand

Fielding aesthetic umbrella/cane stand

Holdcroft heron umbrella/cane stand

Holdcroft tobacco umbrella/cane stand

Holdcroft lily umbrella/cane stand

Holdcroft bird umbrella/cane stand

Holdcroft bamboo umbrella/cane stand 

Holdcroft majolica umbrella/cane stand 

Holdcroft banana leaf stand

Holdcroft majolica heron cane stand

Unattributed  majolica umbrella/cane stand, possibly Forester

Unattributed majolica boot umbrella/stand

Putti with cornucopia umbrella/cane stand attributed to Forester

Forester majolica dragon umbrella/cane stand

Forester majolica faux bois umbrella/cane stand

Brown-Westhead Moore Inuit umbrellas/cane stand

Brownfield faux bois umbrella stand

Unattributed English cane/umbrella stand

Bretby owl umbrella/cane stand 

Bretby majolica cane stand

Bretby monkey umbrella stand

Bretby majolica crane umbrella/cane stands. Compare to the 

Royal Dux examples below

Royal Doulton faïence cane stand

Unattributed majolica bulldog umbrella/cane stand

Unattributed umbrella/cane stand 

Unattributed umbrella/cane stand 

Unattributed tree trunk umbrella/cane stand

Royal Art Pottery majolica umbrella stand

Continental potteries made amazing stands as well.

Wasmuël pug umbrella stand

Nimy majolica calla lily umbrella stand 

Schiller & Sons umbrella stand

Massier majolica crane heron stand 

Massier majolica crane cane stand

Massier majolica flamingo umbrella/cane stand

Massier frog umbrella stand

Massier leaping fish umbrella stand

Onnaing bamboo umbrella/cane stand

Catalog page showing Orchies umbrella stands

The Orchies cat umbrella stand from the catalog above. Signed Foubert

Orchies swan umbrella stand

Orchies majolica iris umbrella stand

Wasmuël majolica umbrella stand

French Palissy fish umbrella stand

Unattributed continental elf and basket cane/umbrella stand

Royal Dux majolica turkey cane stand

Royal Dux majolica flamingo cane stand

Royal Dux majolica flamingo cane stand

Royal Dux majolica crane cane stand

Royal Dux majolica crane cane stand

Royal Dux majolica crane cane stand, very similar to the Massier crane

Royal Dux majolica heron cane stand, very similar to the Massier heron

Woodpecker majolica umbrella/cane stand from Poet-Vaval 

Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand

Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand

Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand

Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand

Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand

Etruscan Majolica umbrella stand

Over the years I’ve seen beautiful collections of antique canes displayed in such stands, or you can do what I’ve done—fill them with peacock feathers! No matter how you use them they will add charm to your home.

Video: ©D.Bastas; Music: ©The Beatles