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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Corkette

Corkscrew (Extractor)
ca. 1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Corkette removes corks from wine bottles by pumping air into the bottle and thus creating sufficient pressure of air below the cork to lift it out. The principal part is the pump encased in a milk chocolate brown plastic handle with curved sides and a rounded end. One side is embellished with the brand name Corkette in script against a ribbed background. The sleeve of the pump is cylindrical with a rounded end and four indentations through which a long, hollow needle protrudes with a small aperture at the tip. The needle is protected when not in use by a removable, conical guard made of beige coloured plastic. The inside of the guard has eight short ribs which serve as a grip. The corkette is packaged in a grey, oblong plastic stand, the base incorporating a sleeve with an angled edge for an instruction leaflet. The stand is covered by an oblong top in clear plastic.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Corkscrew Body
  • Corkscrew Top
  • Corkscrew Box
  • Corkscrew Box Top
TitleThe Corkette
Materials and techniques
Plastic and steel
Brief description
Corkscrew

Corkscrew

Corkscrew

Corkscrew
Physical description
The Corkette removes corks from wine bottles by pumping air into the bottle and thus creating sufficient pressure of air below the cork to lift it out. The principal part is the pump encased in a milk chocolate brown plastic handle with curved sides and a rounded end. One side is embellished with the brand name Corkette in script against a ribbed background. The sleeve of the pump is cylindrical with a rounded end and four indentations through which a long, hollow needle protrudes with a small aperture at the tip. The needle is protected when not in use by a removable, conical guard made of beige coloured plastic. The inside of the guard has eight short ribs which serve as a grip. The corkette is packaged in a grey, oblong plastic stand, the base incorporating a sleeve with an angled edge for an instruction leaflet. The stand is covered by an oblong top in clear plastic.
Object history
This design is now rare. Spong & Co. Ltd. no longer exist and the corkette was declared unsafe shortly after being launched on the British market. Metalwork now has a collection of patent corkscrews (the Giachin Gift, 1993) and the acquisition of this corkette represents an example of an interesting variant.
Bibliographic reference
Bernard M. Watney and Homer D. Babbidge, Corkscrews for Collectors, Sotheby Park Bernet, London and New York, 1981, ISBN: 0 85667 113 4
Collection
Accession number
M.8:1-1994

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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