Thomason Patent Type Corkscrew with Bone Handle c1820

Description

Heading : Thomason Patent type corkscrew with bone handle c1820

Date : c1820
Period : Regency
Origin : England 
Construction: Bronze. bovine bone. bristle
Size :  17cm closed
Condition : Fully working. crack and repair to the bone handle
Restoration : None 
Weight :  263grams

The Thomason patent was the first major corkscrew patent of the 19th century lasting from 1802-1816. This is a good. clean example although does not bear the patent badge.  There is a historic crack and repair to the bone handle. 

To open the bottle simply turn the screw anti anti-clockwise to draw it to the top and then screw clockwise to drive the screw into the cork. Once the screw is fully in the cork continue turning clockwise at which point the larger reverse direction thread will be engaged drawing the cork from the bottle. 

Eric Knowles Comment: The engineering applied to the simple act of opening a wine bottle is testimony to ingenuity the importance of wine to English gentleman.