A fabulous & rare antique cast bronze salamander once used in pharmacies to make corkscrews for medicinal flasks or bottles.
Stamped on side 'cotoflex.' It measures 11" x 4.5" x 3 1/4" h.
In pharmacies, the salamander is a symbol of resilience, purification, and healing, rooted in ancient beliefs about its ability to withstand fire. It's a symbol in Dutch pharmacies and also appears in alchemy, particularly in connection with broilers (also called "salamanders"). The salamander's association with fire stems from the observation that it would sometimes emerge from burning logs, leading to the belief that it possessed a unique ability to survive fire
"The corkscrew was born around 1830 and was widely used throughout the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century. The corkscrew allowed the pharmacist to compress, & soften the corks before inserting them into the necks of flasks or bottles containing medicine.
