FRENCH Antique Guessing Game

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Every now and then, but not often, I stumble upon a French antique that I have no idea what it is, and that is one of the ways that have I learned about French history and or culture. It is one of the fascinating reasons I enjoy going to the brocante the stories have taught me a great deal.

I cannot remember the last time I posted a French antique guessing game? But today there was an item at the brocante  that stumped both Yann and me.

Do you know what it is?

Take a guess in the comment section, and the first person to guess what it is will receive a little gift and the person with the most creative answer will receive a gift too. I will announce the winners within a day or two xxx

 

A clue: The item is made with fine wire and about six inches long. From the turn of the century.

 

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Comments

38 responses to “FRENCH Antique Guessing Game”

  1. Elaine Bell

    Are these wire twists to hold champagne corks in place?

  2. Agree with Elaine, but they might have been used to make a framework for millinery or papier mache work too.

  3. Agree with Elaine as well.
    Alternative answer, for whimsy: a number of them used as framework to support a gravity-defying upswept fin de siècle hairdo like those worn by Gibson girls.

  4. Linda Sullivan

    Back scratcher❤️

  5. Croquet wickets

  6. Judy—aportmanteau

    I like the suggestion about wires to hold champagne bottle corks.

  7. Nancy McBee

    I think they were an attempt as the first primitive IUD birth control instruments. Yes, as an RN, my brain went “medical”,lol. And with that said, “OUCH!” 😀 😛

  8. These are frames for ‘blocking’ handknitted childrens socks.

  9. I believe these are markers in the garden for the names of the plants.

  10. Sock stretcher

  11. Garden stakes

  12. Cynthia Thompson

    The wire to fix large cracks in pottery? I like all the other guesses too! What fun.

  13. Hello from Normandy, it’s a ‘muselet” needed to keep the cork from empty Champagne and cider bottles before opening. With a little round metal keep on it and put on cork with this muselet, each productor prove they payed costums french taxes! .Thanks for your good blog.

  14. They would be good to label plants in your flower garde!

  15. Jennifer Phillipps

    Very elaborate corset fastenings…to make things as uncomfortable as possible…depending upon which turn of the century it is! Jennie, NZ

  16. It’s used to keep your panties out of a wad.

  17. I agree with Karen. Plant ID stakes. 🌱

  18. Bonnie Schulte

    An armature used in the body form of papermache teddy bears without arms.

  19. Cindy McNiel

    Are they used on the back of paintings/pictures to hang them either horizontally or vertically?

  20. Do they hold flowers up in a pot?

  21. hangers to go on curtain rods to make pleats at the top

  22. Debby Holt

    I guess they are some kind of stitch placeholder. Franki may have it right.

  23. Tracy Holt

    Antique zip ties.

  24. Fat Rabbit

    I have to agree – Elaine’s answer is very clever. I never thought of champagne!
    My guess would be some type of plant markers for the garden or greenhouse. I notice that other readers thought of that also.
    I have noticed that some gardens even tag their trees.

  25. It’s used to hang your fancy socks up to dry and to keep them in shape.

  26. Judi Delgado

    For stretching stockings?

  27. Elizabeth Schaeffer

    Pliable staves ror a corset or bustier

  28. Olivia Rose Lee

    I think they may have been used to extend the space in small closets….by twisting the two long wires around the cross bar of a hanger the two lower loops could be used to hand two more hangers at a right angle, thus allowing for triple the clothes space.??

  29. They look like something to hold very elaborate hair styles .

  30. to hold wigs or hair inplace

  31. Nina Sgriccia

    To support grapes on the vine as they grow.

  32. Stakes to attach a notes to and stick in the garden or a potted plant.

  33. Gretchen Seibert

    Hairpins for very bouffant hairdos

  34. eileen murphy

    I thought something to do with stockings or socks but seems champagne cork is the most popular…

  35. Sharon Kasner

    Elaine has the best answer. I thought they were used in lace making or tatting.
    Congrats!

  36. Brandy Rowe

    Wig/hair pins

  37. Fairies use these to catch bits of rainbow in the square area and then take the two long straight wires to hang them from branches to light the forest for a fairy ball.

  38. Diane Merrick

    Unused champagne cork ties for securing the cork in the bottle.

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