A MECHANICAL CORKSCREW AND WINE-POURING MACHINE

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Property from the Collection of David Gainsborough Roberts`I would like my work to inspire people to consider the general pointlessness and excessiveness of the majority of man-made things in our world and to smile at our tireless pursuit of happiness through the invention of ingenious nonsense.' Rob Higgs - Designer.

A MECHANICAL CORKSCREW AND WINE-POURING MACHINE

MADE AND DESIGNED BY ROB HIGGS, CIRCA 2006

Details

A MECHANICAL CORKSCREW AND WINE-POURING MACHINE
MADE AND DESIGNED BY ROB HIGGS, CIRCA 2006
Constructed from around three-hundred pieces of scrap iron, including a drill, spanners, cannon balls, lathe handle, clock springs, weights, cogs, wheels and chain, all then cast and machined in bronze, the base applied with a specification plaque, set on a panelled oak cabinet fitted with a hydraulic system and carved with the monogram of the craftsman L & B
The corkscrew 56 in. (142 cm.) high; the case 40 ¼ in. (102 cm.) high; 70 in. (178 cm.) long; 28 ¾ in. (73 cm.) deep

Special notice

VAT rate of 20% is payable on hammer price and buyer's premium Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square not collected from Christie’s by 5.00 pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Cadogan Tate. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Cadogan Tate Ltd. All collections will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot should be marked with a dagger symbol in the printed catalogue. VAT will be charged at 20% on both the hammer price and buyer's premium.

Please note that the base is currently fitted with a jack, and not a hydraulic system as stated in the catalogue, however, it has the capacity to be fitted with one.

Lot Essay

This corkscrew is the bronze prototype model and based on the popularity of demonstrations, three further have been made and sold. The corkscrew removes a cork from a bottle and then pours the wine under its own clockwork power. The corkscrew has been featured on Stephen Fry: Gadget Man, (Channel 4, 2012.) and BBC.'s, The One Show. It was unveiled at the Top Marques exhibition in Monaco by Albert II, Prince of Monaco (b. 1958).

The lot is sold with a leather bound book commemorating the construction of the corkscrew and signed by various celebrities who attended the launch in Monaco including Albert II, Prince of Monaco, Bono and Damon Hill. It is also sold with a cover, a boat hook/pole to lift the cover off and two fold-over top sections for the cabinet.

Rob Higgs creates mechanical machines from old raw materials found in scrap-heaps, farms and boatyards.
His work is in permanent public and private collections in 6 continents around the world.
His clients include: The Science Museum, Heston Blumenthal, Warner Bros, BBC, NASA, Stephen Fry, Absolut Vodka, Game of Thrones, Fatboy Slim, Blue Peter, Eden Project, Giuseppe Tornatore, Singapore Govt, Kneehigh Theatre....

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