Louis XIV Coffee Mill, Wrought Iron, Hourglass Model, Late XVII

Wrought iron coffee grinder - Wooden handle - Hourglass model - France - Louis XIV period, late 17th early 18th century - Heart-shaped wrought iron bracket. The fixing claw is missing -Object with its original patina (no polishing) This Louis XIV period coffee grinder is made of wrought iron. This model is called an hourglass because of its shape composed of two cones joined by their top surmounted by a crank so the use made it possible to grind the coffee beans. The first French mills were produced entirely from wood. But little by little, the enthusiasm generated by the drink started the "mass" production of iron mills, such as ours. As a token of its popularity, it should be noted that Diderot and d'Alembert devoted an entire chapter to this model of a mill in their Encyclopedia (1751-1772). The time of creation of our coffee grinder therefore makes it a real witness to the age of the adoption of coffee, as a noble drink reserved for a very privileged elite. The arrival of coffee in France dates from around 1670, in the context of numerous exchanges with the Orient. Very quickly appreciated by the court of Louis XIV, its diffusion in high society is immediate and its consumption becomes a marker of elegance and modernity. Indeed, the scarcity and the high cost of the coffee bean make the mill, allowing it to be ground, an object of social distinction guaranteeing the refinement of its luxurious owner.