TG 1.1923 Victorian Perfume Corkscrew, Direct Pull Mechanism, Sterling Silver Handle, Chester, England, Late 19th Century

This example belongs to the direct pull family of corkscrews, here in the smaller format commonly referred to as a perfume corkscrew. Such corkscrews were designed for extracting the small cork stoppers used in perfume and scent bottles during the nineteenth century. The user rotates the wire worm into the stopper and withdraws it by direct vertical pull using the handle. Compact examples of this type were often included in travelling dressing sets or personal toilet cases.

The handle carries British silver hallmarks including the lion passant confirming sterling silver (.925) and the Chester town mark, indicating assay at the Chester Assay Office. A date letter “W” is also present, placing the hallmark in the late Victorian period. The steel worm remains straight with defined point and consistent spacing. Surface wear and minor marks are consistent with age and use. Structurally sound and suitable for careful functional use.

Small perfume corkscrews of this type are illustrated and discussed in The Ultimate Corkscrew Book and in World Class Corkscrews, where they are described as personal tools associated with dressing cases and toiletry sets of the nineteenth century.

England, Chester assay, late Victorian period, c.1895

Provenance Thomas Guenther Collection

MEASUREMENTS
Length: 12.6 cm
Height: 0.9 cm
Width: 1.9 cm
Weight: 16 g