At first glance, this strange vintage metal object might look like a piece of industrial equipment or an unusual kitchen decoration. But it actually had a very practical purpose: it was a bottle-drying rack, historically known in French as an égouttoir à bouteilles or hérisson, meaning “hedgehog.”

These racks were designed to hold glass bottles upside down, allowing water to drain out while air circulated around them. They were especially useful in homes, wineries and other settings where bottles needed to be washed and dried before being reused. The multiple levels and metal prongs allowed several bottles to be placed on the rack at once.

The unusual vertical design wasn’t just decorative. By keeping the bottles elevated and separated, the rack helped prevent water from collecting inside them and allowed them to dry more efficiently. The sturdy metal construction also made these racks durable enough for repeated everyday use.

Today, vintage examples have become popular among collectors and antique enthusiasts. Some people still use them for their original purpose, while others repurpose them as rustic kitchen organizers for mugs, cups and jars or simply display them as charming pieces of old-fashioned household design. What looks like a mysterious metal “tree” was actually a clever solution to a very ordinary problem: how to dry multiple bottles at once.