We have a number of corkscrews at Market Lavington Museum. One of them has a large handle which appears to be made of a root. We had thought it might be a briar.
A corkscrew at Market Lavington Museum
The metal part of the tool has a maker’s name on it.
The corkscrew maker was Laurent Siret of Rochefort sur Loire, France
There is a brass plaque on the handle, which may be the name of a particular wine.
A brass plaque on the corkscrew handle
When the item was given to the museum, there was no internet to find out about things. There is now, so we are able to learn more about our corkscrew.
First of all, we now know that the handle, appropriately enough is made from the wood of a vine and that the manufacturer was one of the largest corkscrew makers in France.
Our information comes from a corkscrew on line magazine at http://www.bullworks.net/daily/20080608.htm where we found this image and information.
An advert showing this type of corkscrew
The corkscrews are often marked on the shank with the name and location of one of the largest producers of such corkscrews Laurent Siret, Rochefort-sur-Loire, France.
The handles of these corkscrews come in an unlimited number of shapes and sizes as they are cut from the vine. One can imagine all sorts of animal figures in the shapes. The example at left was offered by a seller as a seahorse.
Also they can be found with small brass plates attached advertising wines and vineyards.
So now we know much more about our corkscrew
Tags: Market Lavington, Museum, tool
Market Lavington Museum 
April 16, 2014 at 5:43 pm |
What year were they made??
April 16, 2014 at 6:02 pm |
We are not certain. Originally we had ours as early 20th century but I think it could be more recent.
Has anybody else any idea?
May 1, 2014 at 12:57 pm |
Laurent Siret started producing corkscrewsat Rochefort sur Loire in 1925. 🙂
May 3, 2014 at 6:05 pm |
Thanks for that, Kim. We di like to get our facts sorted,
May 2, 2015 at 1:44 pm |
I bought this corkscrew new in Paris in 1967 at an underground
monastery wine cellar in the heart of Paris. I still use it after all these years and it still has the little gold metal plate on it and the same markings you show on the corkscrew. The wood part is made from a grapevine and was lacquered when new. It looks like a beautiful piece of petrified wood now but very hard,
May 4, 2015 at 5:33 pm |
We agree – we think they look lovely.
June 25, 2016 at 5:43 am |
I would like to know more about the brass works in Rochefort…as I found a Lady Dinner Bell, marked Rochefort. Most of these bells have been attributed to England or even Russia. The detail is very fine.
June 25, 2016 at 8:28 am |
Hi Robin
I’m sorry. We know nothing.
Rog
Curator