You Could Be Sitting On Some Serious Cash If You Own One Of These Antique Corkscrews - Tasting Table

"A brand known as Syroco originally made intricate wood pieces for businesses and homes, but the brand began making smaller items like wall fixtures and corkscrews. Syroco stands for Syracuse Ornamental Company, and since the late 1890s, the business has been making pieces that were affordable and of quality. The fact that these pieces are still used and sold second-hand today serves as testament to their craftsmanship."

"While it is perfectly reasonable to rummage around in your kitchen for a corkscrew, quickly open a bottle of wine, and toss the contraption back into a dark drawer without a second thought, you may want to pause. In addition to other vintage kitchen tools that you have carelessly thrown into a cupboard, that old corkscrew that was just in your hands could be worth a significant stack. Bottle openers with carved wooden handles can fetch several hundred dollars."

"When browsing antique stores or shopping online, Syroco corkscrew designs that feature characters like the clown can be more valuable than others. One of these clown corkscrews can sell for close to $500. The piece can stand upright and conceals the corkscrew inside the figurine until it is taken apart. While some corkscrews are similar to this kind of standalone design, many others feature a small figure resting at the top of the corkscrew, like the head of a laughing man or a small dog."

Syroco, short for Syracuse Ornamental Company, produced intricate carved wood and molded-resin household items since the late 1890s and later made smaller items such as corkscrews and wall fixtures. Carved corkscrews typically have a signature wood-pulp-and-resin finish and a stamp or label indicating authenticity, though some stickers like "KING" can confuse identification. Condition, rarity, and original components determine resale value, with whimsical character designs—particularly clown figurines that conceal the screw—often commanding the highest prices, sometimes approaching $500. Collectors search antique shops and online marketplaces for these pieces.

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