The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
932.2011.1
Alpine walking stick
27/09/2011
Hermione Cooper
27/09/2011
Walking stick shaped like an ice axe. Canvas wrist strap.
wood, metal
91(l) x 8(circumference) cms
1
A flower and a bird carved into the top. There are four badges attached to the shaft. The first is a stag with "LANDOCK" inscribed below. The next one is a brass circle but the inscription has faded. The next one is a flower with "GARMISCH" written below. The following one is of a town with "GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN" inscribed below.
brown, silver
Germany
Though shaped like an ice axe, this is a walking stick, being rather too flimsy to be used as an axe. These walking sticks are very popular in the mountainous regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and are sometimes called "trophy sticks", the trophies being the little tin badges that are pinned on to the shaft - these can be purchased in tourist shops and alpine huts all over Central Europe and are designed specifically for the purpose. The flower design on the top is of an Eidelweiss, universal symbol of Alpine walking.
Jane Coll found this in the attic of the a house they moved into in Dunnet.
Donated by Jane Coll
27/09/2011
27/09/2011
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
27/09/2011