People often wonder about how an idea is created and implemented. Here are a couple of explanations about the creation of the corkscrew and the symbolism of a peace sign.

The Design of the Corkscrew:

     There is no actual proof to indicate when the design of the first corkscrew appeared. However, the need for a corkscrew became prevalent in the eighteenth century. Wine used to be stored in large terracotta pots, known as amphoras, and this was to prevent wine from spoiling. At the time, there was no need for a more permanent way to store wine. Later, glassware bottles were developed to keep wine in and the bottles were accompanied with corks to seal them.

     Other products, along with wine, were stored in these types of bottles, but the most famous type of corkscrew is the one that was created to open up the wine bottle. The first recorded patent for wine comes from England, where bottled wine with corking was first initiated. The first corkscrew was based off of the design from the gun worme, a device that was used to clean musket barrels. With a spiral at the end of this device, it was used to extract cork from bottles and later inspired the design for the modern corkscrew.

The Hand Symbol for Peace:

     The V sign, also known as the Peace sign, is “a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched,” according to dictionary.com. This gesture, when the palm is facing inwards, is considered to be an insulting sign of defiance in several European countries.

     The V sign, which was used as a symbol for victory, was made popular by Winston Churchill during World War II. It was first with palm inwards and later became used with the palm facing outwards. In the United States, with the palm facing outwards, this gesture is considered a symbol for peace, which became popular during the peace movement of the ‘60s. Flexing of the peace sign fingers commonly denotes air quotes while speaking.

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