PalenqueBob

An NPR (Nation Pubic Radio in the U.S.) reported on a buy who is selling corkscrews made from the ill-fated Austrian Queen of France's favorite oak tree.

Called Marie-Antoinette's tree, the estimated 300-year-old oak tree was first wreaked havoc with during the infamous storm that knocked down literally hundreds of trees in Versailles park in the late 1990s, with upset it a bit, then succombed to the infamous heat wave of 2003.

A guy with the famous "Lay-Own" corkscrew makers (spelt weirdly, can't remember how, but a most presigious company, bought the tree and is now selling corkscrews made out of the wood. He has even negotiated with Versailles to put Marie-Antoinette's personal emblem on the tier bouchons.

So for a bit of something that was once called Marie-Antoinette's Tree at Versailles (the queen loved sitting under its shade at her Petit Trianon cottage, where it was considered to be her very favorite tree) cop this unique item - selling i believe however at about $135!

Now we'll see if there is a sucker born every minutes!

Carlux

Just in case anyone is interested , the maker is not 'lay own but http://www.laguiole.com/chateau.htm

The infamous storm referred to was 26th December 1999 in Paris, and the 27th in the west and southwest - which meant that many parts of France didnt have to worry about any predicted Y2K bug, as mostly we didnt have any electricity, water, or telephone. In fact we had one of the nicest New Year's Eve's ever, about 10 of us munching on foie gras, then grilling steaks in the fireplace, champagne, by candlelight.

At the time it was claimed that several HUNDRED milliontrees came down. This was later revised downward a little, but there were certainly millions of trees lost. Among them this very famous one.

PalenqueBob

Carlux - thanks for interesting comments. In summer of 2000 i was taking trains all over France and saw so many train cars loaded with wood - an overload of wood from the storms - such a catastrophe, especially at a place at Versailles.

Now if i can figure out why the French urban planners insist on cutting off the tops of so much trees along the streets! Like plane trees, ubiquitously cropped short permanently. What's wrong with tall trees street-side?

PatrickLondon

You have to pay people to sweep up the leaves in the autumn. More leaves = higher taxes (and possibly more slippery road surfaces).

PatrickLondon

Plus, the French style in terms of public gardens tends towards chopping things off.

Which brings us neatly back to Marie Antoinette. I'm surprised he doesn't make cigar cutters out of that tree.

PalenqueBob

Patrick: LOL - great idea. My ex-Frenc wife (ex-wife, she;s still French) always said the trees were clipped to keep them in proper perspective so they literally don't overshadow the buildings. My still French son, 23, says he thinks they are cropped to prevent them from messing up foundations with roots - i don't put much stock in his theory but do in my ex-wife's - the French landscape gardening desire to manage everything.