(Item 49)
This Antique Triple Butterfly Spliced Billiard Cue, dating to c.1915, is a high-art example of early 20th-century woodcraft. As a one-piece cue measuring 58″, it represents the traditional construction favored for its balanced weight distribution and solid feedback.
Technical Specifications & Materials
Length: 58″.
Construction: Features three sets of colored, staggered hand-spliced points and butterflies. The “butterfly” splice is a complex decorative technique where the wood is cut and joined to resemble the wings of a butterfly, a hallmark of master cue-making.
Inlay Detail: Includes a Mother of Pearl (MOP) inset wedge beautifully framed by multiple colored veneers, creating a vivid focal point in the butt section.
Hardware: Finished with an ivory butt cap and an ivory ferrule, consistent with the premium appointments of the era.
Craftsmanship & Aesthetic
The use of “staggered” points adds a layer of visual depth, as the hand-spliced elements are set at varying heights. This level of hand-work, particularly the alignment of the colored veneers within the butterfly splices, marks this as a top-tier professional cue from the 1910s. It stands as a testament to the era when aesthetic beauty was as important as functional performance on the table.
