Vintage French Advertising Corkscrew

1930s-1950s French Wooden-Handled Corkscrew, A. Lagneau-Dieul, “Vins en Gros”

7” handle length, 4” total length including screw

This vintage French corkscrew features a turned wooden handle stamped A. Lagneau-Dieul on one side and Vins en Gros (“Wines in Bulk”) on the other. The sturdy iron worm shows a deep patina, while the wood handle has the smooth wear of long use. These corkscrews were often given as advertising pieces by wine merchants and négociants in the mid-20th century, serving as both a practical tool and a promotional object.

The phrase Vins en Gros refers to the wholesale wine trade in France, where merchants sold wines in barrels or large quantities to cafés, restaurants, and retailers. Tools like this corkscrew were a way for businesses to keep their name literally in the hands of their clients.

This piece captures the everyday culture of French wine commerce, when drinking and selling wine was as much a part of daily life as bread or coffee.

Today, it serves as both a functional corkscrew and a collectible bit of French wine history — perfect for display in a bar area, wine cellar, or as a conversational kitchen accessory.