Monumental wooden wine press screw column, hand-carved, 18th c. – 170 cm
An impressive wine press screw (also known as a press screw or vis de pressoir) converted into a column or pedestal. The heavy wooden screw once drove the press in a wine cellar; it was later fitted with an octagonal base and a round moulded top with an octagonal plate. At 170.2 cm and a weight of around 60 kg this is an exceptionally large and heavy example: most press screws converted into columns measure 110 to 150 cm. This is an early screw: the thread is still entirely hand-carved, with irregular, wide turns, and centuries of use and drying have left the wood deeply cracked and darkly patinated. We have also had 19th-century press screws, but this one is clearly older: we date it to the 18th century or earlier. The deep, warm patina, the worn edges of the thread and the drying cracks tell the story of years of use. That is exactly what turns such a screw into a sculptural object. Wine press screws are popular with interior designers, but such an early, large and heavy example with a wide top is rarely found. It is tall enough to stand on its own as an architectural element, and the top (Ø 41.5 cm) is large enough for a big plant, a sculpture or a lamp. Beautiful in a rustic, wabi-sabi, brutalist or Mediterranean interior, and as a contrast in a sleek modern home or loft. Lovely next to a staircase, in a hallway or as a plant stand by a window. Dimensions: height 170.2 cm; top Ø 41.5 cm; base approx. 44 X 44 cm. Weight: approx. 60 kg. Material: solid wood (probably oak). Period: screw 18th century or earlier, later converted into a column. Origin: probably France. Condition: used and weathered, as befits an old press screw. Deep drying cracks in the thread, worn and crumbled thread edges, a crack running through the octagonal base, scratches, small dents and a small splinter on the edge of the top, and some old worm holes in the lower rings. There is an old fixing plug in the centre of the top. Heavy and substantial; the column is sold as is.
