Marie Antoinette's Oak Chateau Laguiole is the most sought after wine opener ever created!

 

The huge tree was one of the few that escaped the major renovation of the Versailles gardens order by Louis XVI in 1776. As of 2003 this tree was one of the few specimens that survived the terrible storm of December 26 1999. Measuring finally 115 feet high and 18 feet around, weakened by the storm, it fell victim to the same sun it had sheltered royal heads from, dying in the drought that accompanied a heat wave in 2003.

As if being Versailles's oldest and biggest was not enough, this tree was more notorious for being called Marie Antoinette's Oak "Le chêne de Marie-Antoinette" as it was said that it was her favorite place to rest during hot summer days. At already over 100 years old during her reign it surely provided plenty of shade to rest.
The bottom section of the tree is now on display in Versailles (as of 2004, Palais du Trianon) . A sapling of the same species, (Quercus robur), was planted at its original location.

The remaining portion of the tree was purchased in it's entirety by Vialis Creation™ (Chateau Laguiole®) to make a variety of knives and this wine opener. This Chateau Laguiole is the fifth addition of the exclusive Versailles collection and is exclusively found in North America trough NeverUnder, LLC / CustomCurling.com web site. The selection of woods used to create the magnificent Versailles collection was harvested from the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles. Nearly all of the rare and old specimen trees of the castle were up-rooted during the terrible storm of December 26 1999, most of those trees were imported from around the world to the Chateau de Versailles during the 18th century has part of the 1776 gardens renovation ordered by Louis XVI.

The 324 years old Oak tree used to create this incredible piece was born in the Versailles gardens. Planted in the spring of 1679 and cared for by André Le Nôtre (1613-1700) landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV of France, it was located near l'allée de la Reine between le Grand Canal and the Grand Trianon where Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) and the royal family often stayed.  

 Click here to read the CBS News Article "Marie-Antoinette's Oak Croaks"

Fleur de Lis, the famous icon of French royalty
The English translation of "fleur-de-lis" (sometimes spelled "fleur-de-lys") is "flower of the lily." This symbol, depicting a stylized lily or lotus flower, has many meanings. Traditionally, it has been used to represent French royalty, and in that sense it is said to signify perfection, light, and life. Legend has it that an angel presented Clovis, the Merovingian king of the Franks, with a golden lily as a symbol of his purification upon his conversion to Christianity. Others claim that Clovis adopted the symbol when waterlilies showed him how to safely cross a river and thus succeed in battle.

Religion and War
Joan of Arc carried a white banner that showed God blessing the French royal emblem, the fleur-de-lis, when she led French troops to victory over the English in support of the Dauphin, Charles VII, in his quest for the French throne. The Roman Catholic Church ascribed the lily as the special emblem of the Virgin Mary. Due to its three "petals," the fleur-de-lis has also been used to represent the Holy Trinity. Military units, including divisions of the United States Army, have used the symbol's resemblance to a spearhead to identify martial power and strength

The Versailles COLLECTION™ Château LAGUIOLE® Marie Antoinette's Oak Corkscrew (324 years old) "Le Chêne de Marie Antoinette"