216

Who are these people?

I contacted French collector and author Guy Olive and asked

“

Who are these

people?

”

His prompt response was

“

In Gérard Bidault

‟

s book

Les Fabriques

Françaises de Tire-Bouchons 1820-1970

,

Gérard traces the history of two of the

greatest factories of

„

tournerie

‟

(wood-

turner factory) situated in the Jura :

Vaillat Emile 1945 - 2000 and Verpillat C.

et André 1889- 1972.

According to Gérard Bidault these two

factories did not make figurative

corkscrews. They were made by wood-

turner craftsmen. They lived in Jura (East

of France). The corkscrews in your photos

show heads of Basque easily recognizable

by the Basque béret. The Basque country (Biaritz etc ...) is situated in the South-

west of France.

These corkscrews were sold as tourist souvenirs after the second World War.

”