les Tours Eiffels et l'Escargot

Ahh!...the omnipresent Eiffel Tower! So many have come and gone from my life, and I have but just these 3 left that are not made yesterday! Tiny they may be but so full of sentimental value that my heart will break a little when they leave me again for new homes!

Deco-style, c. pre-1940's (hairline crack at base)

[8 cm high / 9 cm x 7 cm wide base]

CAD/US$100/Euros70

*****

pre-1960's

[11.5 cm high x 4.5 cm wide at base]

CAD/US$100/Euros70

*****

pre-1950's, tip a little angled to one side
[13 cm high x 6 cm wide base]

CAD/US$150/Euros100

*My most recent find from a village vide-grenier in Brittany where the old couple selling it have had it for over 50 years...probably a souvenir from their honeymoon to Paris!

*****

pre-1960's, stamped "COLIMEX" below the shell
[9.5 cm long x 3 cm high x 5 cm at widest]

CAD/US$200/Euros140

*I believe COLIMEX was a cosmetology/pharmacology company (I did google it), but I am not sure what the lovely snail had to do with their products! It was probably a promotional gift that had once held something else, perhaps a pen, in the holder attached to behind the shell. [I have never seen another one like it!]

I found it at a brocante in Paris many years ago and have become quite attached to its very symbolic frenchness!!

Corkscrews

old grapevine wood handle corkscrew

c. turn of the 19th/20th century

[15 cm long handle x 10 cm long to tip of corkscrew]

CAD/US$100/Euros70

detail of metal plate label:
"CAVE DU VAL CLOS / CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE"

*****

patented "PERFECT" concertina cockscrews

nickel-plated steel, some wear
"PERFECT
BREVETE S.G.D.G."
stamped on both sides

c. pre-1950's

[21 cm long fully extended x 13 cm long squished up x 14 cm at widest when squished]

CAD/US$100/Euros70 for Each (a little less if you buy both!)

*****

champagne cork pull or lifter from the Maison de Castellane established in 1895 in Epernay

"CHAMPAGNE de Castellane

EPERNAY"

engraved on the top

"DEPOSE FRANCE" stamped on the back

c. pre-1950's

[8 cm long x 4.5 cm to 2.5 cm wide x 2 cm high]

CAD/US$100/Euros70

Champagne buckets

What is France without champagne buckets??... even if I can't drink it myself [totally allergic!] - and I know what I am missing!! - the allure of the classic metal vessels to hold bottles of illusions and bubbly fun is never to be taken lightly...
[I have used these buckets for flower displays to very lovely effects...]

"Le Canari"

engraved on one side of bucket
c. pre-1960's

[20 cm high x 19 cm wide at top x 13.5 cm wide at bottom]

silver-plated

{SOLD}

*there is still a "Le Canari" bistrot in Paris on Rue Monge but I am not sure if this is from the same restaurant]

"E.POTFER / METAL BLANC / ORFEVRE

PARIS

30"

engraved on bottom of the bucket

*****

[no engraved markings on body]

"TETE-LEROY

MADE IN FRANCE"

engraved on the bottom
c. pre-1960's

[20 cm high x 20 cm wide at top x 13.5 cm wide at bottom]

silverplated

CAD/US$400/Euros280

detail of handle

Trophies

These trophies were presented to me by various frenchmen...for no particular reasons...really!

"CHALLENGE EIFFEL.L

A.B.A."

engraved on the bronze strip attached to the marble base
c. pre-1950's

[39 cm high x 14 cm wide (cup)/13 x 13 cm base]

(metal cup on marble base with interesting fish motif stem)

CAD/US$500/Euros350

*I am not sure what sport this trophy was presented for - perhaps a race to the top of the Eiffel Tower??

*****

"CLUB DU BOIS DE BOULOGNE

TOURNOI DE BRIDGE

19 AVRIL 1939

RAOUL WEIL"

engraved on the cup

(metal cup on marble base)

[15 cm high x 11.5 cm wide (cup)/ 7.5 x 7.5 cm base]

CAD/US$300/Euros200

*****

"ORANGINA"

engraved and painted orange on the cup
c. 1960's/70's?

(metal cup on marble base)

[29.5 cm high x 8 cm wide (cup)/ 7 x 7 cm base]

CAD/US$300/Euros200

*For the one who drinks the most ORANGINA in a day? in a year?

*****

"INT. GREENKEEPER GOLF - TOURNAMENT 1979

3.PREIS

ORAG

PARIS"

engraved on the front

"Sponsor: ORAG INTER AG

BADEN - SCHWEIZ"

engraved on the back

[20 cm in diameter]

CAD/US$100/Euros70