Pressa d'anatra - Torchio - Press

Amazing! The item presented at auction is a rare aristocratic kitchen press for duck from the late 19th century. This instrument is made of cast iron, with a tinplate trough, cast iron pressing plate, perforated filter disc for draining liquids in tinplate, and a solid wood base with four apply cast-iron lion's paw feet, a typical feature of high-era production for bourgeois kitchens of the late 1800s, circa 1870-1890. The wood of the base dampens vibrations and does not damage the marble tables of gentlemanly kitchens. The lion-paw feet with ferociously well-modeled foreheads in relief are typical of the Umbertine/Liberty period and constitute a mark of great sculptural quality that attest to the object's value and excellent foundry workmanship. This type of press was used mainly in high French cuisine, gentlemanly villas, for the preparation of cheese curds, pâté, meat in jelly, pressed meats, and to extract juices and essences from fowls such as duck, in sophisticated preparations like the famous “canard à la presse.” The press features a solid frame and a screw mechanism with a horizontal crank, designed to apply uniform pressure to the contents. The perforated filter disc is anchored to the cast-iron pressing plate. Old duck presses are highly valued by collectors of kitchen artifacts, by chefs, enthusiasts and lovers of culinary history, very interesting and very hard to find. The object is a high-quality tool, vintage, today with a fascinating Neo-Gothic/Liberty design with Umbertine influences, and highly decorative, testifying to the crafts of the past, coming from a private collection of antique kitchen tools. The press is a splendid example of utilitarian design from the late 1800s, Neo-Gothic style with Liberty elements. The structure combines the practicality of cast iron with the decorative elegance of the lion’s paws and the warm solid wood base, typical of high-era Umbertine productions. Its dimensions are 30x18x17 cm with a weight of 3.1 kg. The object presents in good overall decorative condition with its original patina and with slight signs of wear that do not diminish the beauty of the object but rather represent a concrete and tangible testimony of a past era, acting as “portals through time,” telling stories, ways of living, craft techniques and aesthetic values that have transformed or disappeared, making it a collectible piece valued for its historical and decorative significance. Splendid coloration and stunning original dark patina of the time. The object has never been restored. The item with its arched frame lines, soft, curved, organic, without sharp edges is floral elegance, which completes it and makes it a museum piece, unique and perfect for any collectible display. In addition to its culinary use, this press represents an era when cooking was as much an art as a technique, and when tools were designed to last over time. A piece today of great charm, ideal for both Kitchenalia and antique kitchen or laboratory instrument collectors, or for display in industrial, rural, rustic, country chic, vintage kitchens or apothecary studies, or simply to be displayed on a piece of furniture, in a display case or glass cabinet as a real sculpture or work of art evocative of past trades, perfect for any showcase or decoration. Photos are an integral part of the description. The item was seen and liked for photographic documentation and in its current condition as used, always documented with photos.