C is for Cane

My husband Bill Campbell and I celebrate our anniversary on Thanksgiving Day. For the past few years he has created a sculpture or toy for me inspired by Edward Gorey's character Mr. Earbrass. This year's anniversary gift was a collaborative effort between the two of us - a cane inspired by Mr. Gorey's illustration C is for Cane. from an unfinished alphabet in the Gorey Archives.

Bill started by referencing the drawing and hand carving the head out of wood. The wooden head was painted and a rubber mold was created so we could pour the head in foundry wax. 

If cast as a solid bronze piece the cane head would weigh about two pounds so the wax head was poured hollow. After adding details to the wax by hand, it was taken to our foundry where it was lost wax cast in bronze. Bill cleaned and polished the raw bronze casting to bring up the shiny surface.

The bronze head was fitted so it would screw onto the end of the wooden cane stick. As you can see in the above photo, during the molding and casting process the object being cast will end up slightly smaller than the original carving so we had to take this shrinkage into account when sizing the carving.

The finished cane is well balanced and fits nicely in the hand. It is not only a unique decorative object, but it is a fully functional cane that will no doubt be put to practical use as the years go by.

C is for Cane illustration courtesy The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust. To see this and other rare original pieces of art from the Gorey Archive, follow the Trust on Instagram and/or Facebook.