D E R S T O C K S A M M L E R - Injuka Kunst

By Ann Arthur
An Interview Of Interest
Chris Jussel
Chris Jussel, host of the Antique Road Show, which has been the highest rated program on
the Public Broadcasting system for the past two years, was in Houston recently at the Theta
Charity Antiques Show. Pat and I had the opportunity to visit with him at that time. His expertise
lies in the area of English furniture, but with years of experience in not only antiques, but as the past
president of The National Art & Antique Dealers Association of America, Inc., he has some worthwhile
advice on acquiring the skills to be successful as a collector. “Knowledge begins with an interest. You
start by learning styles and the time periods the styles were used in. The more you see, the keener
your eye becomes”. Where Jussel has the opportunity to see several thousands of objects a year,
a feat that the collector in general could only dream about, it gives a reminder that looking at
collections, auctions, and reference material will help everyone become better collectors as they
become more certain of what they are purchasing.
Jussel places a high value on the dealers being forthcoming and educated in the materials
that they sell, “I think it is important for the public, which is spending money, to have objects that
are guaranteed to be what dealers say they are”. This is the attitude that enables all of us to have
our favorite dealers that we can trust enough to purchase objects from sight unseen. But there still
remains that thrill of finding those treasures where we must depend on our own judgment and
experience to analyze the quality of the item, and to place a value on it.
One question that was important to me as a hopeful hunter of canes was whether there was
a noticeable saturation of antiques in any particular part of the country. This is of concern after
many days spent looking through dusty shops, and estate sales for canes with less success than
hoped for. His answer is that Americans have always been a mobile society and their possessions
went everywhere; so don't give up hope of discovery.
One of the most memorable pieces related to canes that has been “found” during the Road
Show was during last springs filming of the Rochester, New York show. A folk art cane rack that was
brought in was reviewed and evaluated by Wayne Pratt, of Wayne Pratt, Inc., located in Woodbury,
Connecticut. His description follows:
Exceptional Carved Folk Art Cane Stand
German Circa 1860-1880
The stand with central shaft, the top half carved with fantastic and humorous figural heads
of demons, one surprised from a bite from a snake that is wound around the length of the carved
section, heads of boars, deer and antlers, oxen, dogs and human faces, all set with glass eyes, also
covered the shaft, below which is a circular mid- section pierced with holes of varying dimensions to
receive canes, the edge elaborately carved with nearly two dozen animal, human, and demon faces
including a goat fox, boar, eagle, horses and dogs, all set with glass eyes, half of the circumference
carved with an interwoven snake, all above the continuation of the shaft that terminates in a bulbous
end set within three metal rings of diminishing size made to receive the bases of canes, all on an
elaborate hoof and paw carved base set upon ebony spheres.
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