£3.5K for stick telling of murder
A walking stick carved with intricate details of an 19th century Norton Canes murder made seven times its estimated value at auction. A walking stick carved with intricate details of an 19th century Norton Canes murder made seven times its estimated value at auction. Bidders yesterday included two telephone bids and four absentee bids but in the end the cane sold for £3,500 and went to a buyer local to Lichfield who was at the Winterton's Fine Art auction at Uttoxeter Racecourse. The cane was carved with a penknife by Heath Hayes craftsman Edward Buckley who was renowned for his carvings of walking sticks, dolls houses and a 132ft unbroken wooden chain currently stored in Lichfield Heritage Centre. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Bidders yesterday included two telephone bids and four absentee bids but in the end the cane sold for £3,500 and went to a buyer local to Lichfield who was at the Winterton's Fine Art auction at Uttoxeter Racecourse.
The cane was carved with a penknife by Heath Hayes craftsman Edward Buckley who was renowned for his carvings of walking sticks, dolls houses and a 132ft unbroken wooden chain currently stored in Lichfield Heritage Centre.
The walking stick has detailed pictures and words tracing the story of a murder which happened on July 1, 1893. William Masfen, a 29-year-old farmer, had been out early to try and frighten off poachers and was found lying in a ditch after being shot.
Wintertons Fine Art Auctioneers of Lichfield was asked to research the stick and sell it at auction with an estimated price tag of up to £500.
David Greatwood, senior valuer and auctioneer said the sale price was surprising but he added: "The carving was high quality and it told a story which linked it to an event in history locally.
"Most canes from the period are carved with animals and decorative designs but this told a story which is why I think it attracted so much interest locally, nationally and internationally."
During the investigation into Masfen's killing, a trail led police to the home of 19-year-old poacher John Thomas Hewitt, who was found with a recently fired shotgun and a rabbit ready for cooking. He claimed that he was fleeing with a dead rabbit when the farmer confronted him and demanded he hand over the gun.
Hewitt said he told him he could have only the rabbit and claimed the gun was fired accidentally in a struggle. A post mortem revealed the gun was fired from more than eight yards away. Hewitt was found guilty and hanged at Stafford Jail.
