Hi! I’m in a brocante in France and just found this interesting item. The owner told me that it is for corking bottles, but I am not sure. Is it maybe a huge tire bouchon? Also, anyone can define its age and if it was made as a decor or as a functional tool? Thanks
by TermiNotorius
3 Comments
Looks like a tool to use the corkscrew on the upper left to pull the cork. Insert corkscrew, corkscrew looks like it locks into the shaft with the gear teeth, then use the handle on the right to pull up on the corkscrew with the bottle under that bottom cap looking piece.
That is definitely a vintage corker, they were mounted to walls or tables and used by small producers or home winemakers to seal bottles with cork stoppers. The Bordeaux/Bourgogne/Beaujolais text suggests it was marketed toward French wine regions. Function over decor for sure, these were workhorses back in the day before screw caps took over. If the price is right I’d grab it, cool piece of winemaking history.
It’s a vintage French wine bottle opener. You can pick them up for like $100-$200 online. I was actually looking at one for my home bar recently.
Edit: this is missing a piece. There should be a corkscrew attached to the piston type piece. See here https://www.etsy.com/listing/1736561759/vintage-french-wall-mounted-metal-wooden?ref=share_ios_native_control