65
When I asked French collector and author, Guy Olive,
“
Who are these people
”
, he
responded with:
“
In Gérard Bidault
‟
s book
Les Fabriques Françaises de Tire-Bouchons 1820-1970
, Gérard
traces the history of two 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 the 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.
”
(Bull collection)
