Antique Bamboo Ski Poles with double-ring baskets
c. 1930's, 20th Century
Wood, leather, metal
53" tall, 7" basket
50" tall, 6" basket
© Vintage Winter
A mix-matched set of vintage bamboo ski poles with Double Ring baskets in excellent condition. Note: We thought these were an exact pair, but upon closer inspection - they are slightly different. This will not affect their coolness and decor style!
Single poles were used until about 1910 and made of hardwood (hickory, willow, oak, etc.) to be sturdy and strong “push sticks”. In the 1920’s, bamboo shafts became popular because they were lighter weight and still strong. Ski Poles were also made of cane. Many of the 1940s WWII US Military 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops had cane poles with leather hand grips and rattan ring baskets with leather straps. The tip was steel, and most had aluminum ferrules protecting the “snow” end of the ski pole (dating 1920s – 1950s). Adaptations continued in the ski pole “baskets” – going from sturdy round wooden discs – to rattan rings and leather lacing. The hand straps of the ski pole were once simple canvas straps. Leather hand grips and straps were “in” for ski fashion in the 20s and 30s. Ski poles evolved to rubberized hand grips, metal shafts, and metal rings in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Mt. Lassen Ski Girls.