Cannon-Shaped Bottle Holder in Carved Wood and Rope, Audoux-Minet, France, circa 1970
A whimsical bottle holder in the form of an antique field cannon, executed in stained turned wood and twisted natural rope by the celebrated French design duo Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet (Audoux-Minet), France, circa 1970. The cylindrical barrel, wound with rope, cradles a bottle on its side; two large spoked wheels support the wooden carriage. W. 28.5 × D. 15.5 × H. 17.5 cm.
PRODUCT DETAILS
| Dimensions en CM | 28.5 x 15.5 x 17.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Dimensions en INCH | 11.22 x 6.10 x 6.89 inch |
| Période | 1970–1980 |
| Style | Mid-Century Modern |
| Matériaux | Solid Wood |
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This delightful bottle holder takes the form of a field cannon, modelled in stained turned wood with applied twisted rope ornament. The cylindrical barrel, wound with natural rope, accepts a standard wine or spirit bottle lying on its side; the carriage rests on two large disc wheels pierced with six spokes, set on either side of a flat horizontal platform, while a short axle pin secures each wheel to the body. The warm tobacco-brown finish gives the whole an earthy, artisanal quality entirely consistent with the Audoux-Minet aesthetic.
Adrien Audoux (1900–1981) and Frida Minet (1905–1999) were a creative partnership based in Toulon, on the French Riviera, who came to prominence in the post-war decades for their pioneering use of natural rope — particularly sisal — in furniture and decorative objects. Their work effaces the boundary between craft and design: chairs, lamps and shelving units woven with rope became their signature vocabulary, attracting the attention of galleries and design enthusiasts from the 1950s onward. Though best known for their seating, the duo also produced a variety of smaller decorative pieces, of which this cannon is a charming example.
The cannon form is a recurrent motif in French decorative arts, evoking the heritage of Napoleonic military pageantry and the tradition of maritime and military souvenirs. Here, Audoux and Minet translate it into a playful domestic object — the bottle-holder cannon sits comfortably on a sideboard or dining table, inviting conversation as much as it holds wine. The combination of lathe-turned wood and natural rope reflects the duo's characteristic preference for honest materials worked with skill rather than concealed under veneers or paint.
In very good vintage condition, with the warm patina of age consistent with a piece of this period. The rope ornament is intact and taut. Minor wear consistent with honest use and storage. A singular piece by two designers now firmly established in the canon of French decorative arts of the second half of the twentieth century.
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