Star - Juicer - Iron, Aluminium, 50s-style herb press (torchio)





Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.

Owned an antiques and curio shop with a large international network.
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 127726 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Small herbalist press STAR – cast iron and aluminum – Italian production, mid-20th century
A rare and fascinating STAR-brand manual herbal press, made in Italy, originally intended for home and semi-professional use for pressing medicinal herbs, aromatic plants, and small quantities of plant materials.
The structure is made of painted cast iron, featuring an arched shape and a central threaded steel screw, operated by the upper transverse handle. The internal cylindrical container is aluminum, a material chosen for its hygienic properties and resistance to organic acids. The STAR brand is clearly visible in relief on the structure, a feature that confirms its authenticity and origin.
From a design/constructive standpoint, the press presents:
• robust and functional screw mechanism
• original components, consistent with the era and materials
• authentic patina of use, which testifies to its use and enhances its collectible appeal
This type of equipment was widely used in the postwar period in the herbal, pharmaceutical, and domestic sectors, before the advent of modern industrial machinery, and today it stands as a valuable testimony to the archaeology of labor and to Italian artisanal production.
Subject of great interest for:
• collectors of historical tools
• enthusiasts of herbalism and old-fashioned pharmacy
• interior designer and rustic, industrial, or country-chic installations.
Perfect both as a functional piece and as a decorative element with a strong character, able to tell a story of craftsmanship, tradition, and Italian know-how.
Proper packaging and traceable shipping across Europe.
Seller's Story
Small herbalist press STAR – cast iron and aluminum – Italian production, mid-20th century
A rare and fascinating STAR-brand manual herbal press, made in Italy, originally intended for home and semi-professional use for pressing medicinal herbs, aromatic plants, and small quantities of plant materials.
The structure is made of painted cast iron, featuring an arched shape and a central threaded steel screw, operated by the upper transverse handle. The internal cylindrical container is aluminum, a material chosen for its hygienic properties and resistance to organic acids. The STAR brand is clearly visible in relief on the structure, a feature that confirms its authenticity and origin.
From a design/constructive standpoint, the press presents:
• robust and functional screw mechanism
• original components, consistent with the era and materials
• authentic patina of use, which testifies to its use and enhances its collectible appeal
This type of equipment was widely used in the postwar period in the herbal, pharmaceutical, and domestic sectors, before the advent of modern industrial machinery, and today it stands as a valuable testimony to the archaeology of labor and to Italian artisanal production.
Subject of great interest for:
• collectors of historical tools
• enthusiasts of herbalism and old-fashioned pharmacy
• interior designer and rustic, industrial, or country-chic installations.
Perfect both as a functional piece and as a decorative element with a strong character, able to tell a story of craftsmanship, tradition, and Italian know-how.
Proper packaging and traceable shipping across Europe.
