156

Societa del Tirabuscion

I was told that this three inch high

plaque was originally mounted on a

leather and wood box which contained

the corkscrew depicted on it. The

engraving on the plaque is

“

SOCIETA

DEL TIRABUSCION.FONDATA. LA

NOTTE. DAL.25.AL26.OTTOBRE.1877.

MILANO.

”

The plaque is from a

corkscrew collectors

‟

club founded in

Milan, Italy in October, 1877.

Here is the corkscrew that

was in the box. One end is

engraved

“

Josè Mantegani,

Montevideo.

”

The family of

Jose Mantegani in Uruguay

said he was a great

corkscrew collector, and that

it was his favorite piece, that

is why it is reproduced on

the plate that they used it on

his expositions.

Is it possible that Josè

attended the 1877 founding

meeting and all attendees

were presented with a corkscrew like this engraved with their name? Because the

corkscrew is engraved

“

Josè Mantegani, Montevideo,

”

one would have to

assume that he either traveled to Milan for the meeting or received his corkscrew

some other way.