Mid-19th Century English Antique Treen Bottle Corking Device, circa 1860

C. Bossalaer patented this type of device in 1860 describing his invention as "an improved apparatus for corking bottles, jars and other vessels".

The device drives a cork into a bottle under compression. The cork then swells and makes a tight seal to the bottle.

Made of hardwood, in this case most probably ash, it is formed in four parts; a plunger with an attached handle, a cover, and a metal tube. The plunger passes through the dome-shaped cover into a rebated, brass-lined, downward-facing tapering tube. The cover, concave at its base, is designed to fit over the neck rim of the bottle. In use, the plunger is pulled back and cork inserted into the open aperture of the cover. The plunger is replaced and placed upon the bottle. The plunger is then tapped with a mallet until the cork, becoming increasingly compressed as it is forced downwards, passes into the neck of the bottle, before swelling again to make an air-tight seal.

For a similar example, please see Pinto "Treen and other wooden bygones, Plate 49, illustration E".

Provenance - Ex-private collection, Yorkshire.

Condition - Good overall. There is a very slight chip to the top of the handle however this does not detract from the item overall. Please refer to the images. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size - Extended 40.5 cm / Unextended  26.5 cm (15 3/4" / 10")