Ave!

Mystery Artifact, Wine Bottle Cork Remover, ca. 17th-18th Cent?

Copper alloy; 72mm/30.1gm!

Con/ Somewhat worn from use or time in the ground? Missing corkscrew? Dark brown patina.

Seller's Note/ So what is this artifact, anyway? From the loop at the terminal end, it looks like a modern glass bottle cap popper, right? Wrong! Bottle caps were only patented on February 2, 1892, right here in the good old USA. No way is this peculiar artifact that young.

Ground-found in the northern Balkans, the cast image appears to be a standing man with a long beard. At the top, sandwiched between his head, are the remnants of dissolved iron, perhaps a corkscrew?