| In both the East and West, dragons are a symbol | | | | Saffron Walden library. This dragon was actually a |
| of power. A wizard who can control a dragon or | | | | hoax known as the "Henham Dragon Hoax of |
| a warrior who can conquer this great creature will | | | | 1668." Still, it stimulated the imaginations of many |
| command the power of his world. It is sometimes | | | | artists and craftsmen, who designed some very |
| the evil power, other times a protector's. Hence it | | | | nice walking canes. |
| is a really popular theme for men's canes. With an | | | | Brinsop Dragon |
| antique dragon walking cane, you can hold that | | | | This dragon lived in a well in Duck's Pool Meadow |
| power in your hand, and it is very suitable as a | | | | in Brinsop. It was killed by a local knight, but some |
| gentleman's fashion accessory. | | | | insist that this knight was St. George. Yes, he was |
| Although many dragon legends are found all over | | | | a busy guy! Most illustrations found for this dragon |
| Europe, several of the most famous ones are | | | | show large wings which is typical for modern-day |
| from the British Isles, and some cane-makers | | | | images. The dragon sculpture on the current |
| created beautiful cane handles after these | | | | reproduction cane is actually quite nice looking, |
| dragons. Here are some of the most famous | | | | although probably hard to carry around. |
| "named" dragons that are currently available as | | | | Asian Dragon |
| canes: | | | | Although they are not British, it is worth |
| St. George's Dragon | | | | mentioning Asian dragons. Unlike in the Western |
| One of the most popular dragons is St. George's. | | | | equivalent, in Eastern-world legends dragons are |
| It appears in many art forms, including the walking | | | | usually in pairs, one good and one evil. If a good |
| canes. There are several different versions of St. | | | | dragon wins, the village will prosper. If the evil one |
| George's dragon stories, but the most famous | | | | wins, the village will perish. They are a sort of |
| one is of the dragon attacking the city of Selene | | | | symbol of the yin-yang relationship. One of most |
| in Libya. This dragon demanded a child each day | | | | famous dragon tales from China is of a black and |
| for its meal, and one day the king's daughter was | | | | a white dragon. A famous wood carpenter was |
| chosen for the sacrifice. Just as the dragon was | | | | traveling with his son to a distant city. They |
| about to eat her up, a European knight came to | | | | passed one side of an ominous lake, with an island |
| rescue her. After a long fierce fight, the knight | | | | in the middle covered by a dark cloud. The son |
| finally killed the dragon, and freed the city. People | | | | was thirsty and drank water from the lake when, |
| were so grateful that they converted to | | | | suddenly, a black dragon appeared from the cloud, |
| Christianity under St. George. | | | | snatched the son, and disappeared. The father ran |
| In the old English legend of St. George, the dragon | | | | to the nearby village for help but no one could do |
| named Dadianus is an evil sorcerer who can | | | | anything. Half-crazed, he started carving a dragon |
| change himself into a serpent. St. George trapped | | | | from white wood laying around the side of the |
| the evil spirit of Dadianus in the walking cane he | | | | lake. He carved and carved without food, without |
| carries for eternity to commemorate the victory | | | | sleep. When he removed the last chip from the |
| of good over evil. | | | | dragon's eye, suddenly the wooden dragon came |
| There are a few different artistic representations | | | | alive, flew to the black cloud, and started fighting |
| of St. George's dragon, but the dragon wrapping | | | | with the black dragon. After many hours of |
| around the cane is most popular. | | | | fighting, both dragons disappeared under water, |
| Lambton Dragon | | | | the black cloud cleared from the island, and the |
| Another famous dragon in England is Lambton | | | | carpenter found his son sitting on the island. |
| dragon from the legend of the Lambton Worm | | | | The Asian dragons have no wings, but always |
| and Penshaw Hill. It was during the time of the | | | | have four legs, a pair of long whiskers and often |
| Crusades that John Lambton caught a hideous, | | | | a beard. It is quite easy to distinguish one from |
| black, worm-like creature while fishing. He did not | | | | the European dragons. |
| know what to do with it, so he threw it into an | | | | Dragon Claws |
| ancient well and forgot about it. The years | | | | A dragon-claw cane is a more recent creation |
| passed, and he was gone on the Crusades for a | | | | from fantasy novels and films. A dragon claw |
| long time. When he returned home, he found his | | | | holding a crystal or silver ball is quite popular. |
| village devastated by the worm, which had now | | | | According to stories, the hand of a dragon was a |
| grown into a monstrous dragon. With the help of | | | | talisman for many wizards. The sphere held in the |
| a wise woman, he managed to kill the dragon, but | | | | dragon's claw represents the world, and he who |
| his house was cursed and for nine generations no | | | | owns this talisman will conquer the world. You can |
| lord of Lambton would die in his bed. | | | | find several reproductions in this category. These |
| Although a currently available reproduction cane | | | | canes are very popular among women interested |
| with Lambton dragon looks like an Asian dragon, | | | | in goth and/or vampire fashion than men and |
| many older illustrations show that Lambton dragon | | | | may not be as suitable as a gentleman's fashion |
| is more like a sea serpent monster without legs | | | | accessory. |
| or scales. | | | | Although many original dragon walking canes from |
| Henham Dragon | | | | the 19th century or earlier were made of wood, |
| The Henham dragon was first sighted in 1668 in | | | | bone, and ivory, the currently available dragon |
| the British village of Henham, Essex. It was | | | | canes are usually made of pewter, and often |
| described as being nine feet long with small wings. | | | | made in Italy. Some no-name cheaper dragon |
| The eyes were surrounded by strange feathers. | | | | canes are made in China and India. (Don't discount |
| Numerous sightings of the dragon were reported | | | | Indian craftsmanship, however. They make really |
| over the next year. Some just caught a glimpse | | | | nice canes at a reasonable price.) None of these |
| of it in the distance, while others said it flew | | | | canes are for orthopedic use. They are meant |
| overhead. In 1669, a pamphlet called "The Flying | | | | only as a gentleman's fashion accessory, and |
| Serpent or Strange News Out of Essex" was | | | | cheaper ones are for home decorations. |
| published and a copy of the pamphlet still exists at | | | | |