What is a French cave a liqueur?

A cave a liqueur is a specialized French portable decanter set that emerged during the 18th century and reached peak popularity during the Second Empire period. Designed to hold decanters and matching glasses for spirits, these cases featured glass, wood, or boulle marquetery housings intended for entertaining guests.

What materials were used to construct 19th-century tantalus sets?

Nineteenth-century French tantalus sets typically combine cast ormolu (gilded bronze) or brass framing with bevelled glass panels. The interior suite usually contains lead crystal or cut glass decanters and stemware, often arranged on a gilded metal rack.

How do you identify authentic 19th-century French glass decanter sets?

Authentic pieces exhibit hand-cut glass or crystal decanters with original matching stoppers, mercury gilding or natural oxidisation on the bronze fittings, and hand-finished joins in the metal frame. High-end makers such as Baccarat often used specific cut motifs or acid-etched marks on the glass bases.

How can an antique tantalus be styled in a modern interior?

An antique cave a liqueur works as a focal point on a dining room sideboard, marble console, or home bar arrangement. Surrounding the brass and glass structure with contemporary artwork creates a balanced contrast between traditional craftsmanship and modern design.

How should antique ormolu and crystal decanters be maintained?

Clean the metal frame with a soft, dry cloth without harsh chemical polishes that can strip gilded layers. Rinse crystal decanters with warm water and mild liquid soap, ensuring they dry completely before replacing stoppers to prevent interior moisture trapped within the glass.

for sale €4,095 $4,445

£3,500

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Antique Decanter Set

Cut Crystal Tantalus

French Cave a Liqueur

Antique Crystal Liqueur Set

Id #SA1184547

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Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

Name: Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1184547
Price: 3500 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is an exquisite antique French Napoleon III Bacarrat ormolu and glass Cave a Liqueur, or tantalus, circa 1860 in date.

The Cave a Liqueur features an ormolu case with glass panels and an 'up and over' lid enclosing a gilt bronze frame containing sixteen small glasses and four decanters with stoppers, the whole raised on finely cast ormolu paw feet. One decanter with a Bacarrat label to the underside.

The glasses and decanters are beautifully engraved with geometric decoration.

It is an absolutely superb set which is sure to attract a lot of attention.

As seen in the Ridley Scott historical film "Napoleon".

Condition:

In really excellent condition with no damage, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 29 cm x Width 37 cm x Depth 30 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot

Baccarat

In 1764 King Louis XV of France gave permission to found a glassworks in the town of Baccarat in the Lorraine region in eastern France to Prince Bishop Cardinal Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency (1710-1802). Production consisted of window panes, mirrors and stemware until 1816 when the first crystal oven went into operation. By that time over 3000 workers were employed at the site.

Baccarat received its first royal commission in 1823. This began a lengthy line of commissions for royalty and heads of state throughout the world. In 1855 Baccarat won its first gold medal, at the World's Fair in Paris. Baccarat first began marking its work with a registered mark in 1860. The mark was a label affixed to the bottom of the work. In the period 1846-1849 Baccarat signed some of their high quality glass millefiori paperweights with the letter B and the year date in a composite cane. A special paperweight dated 1853 was found under the cornerstone of a bomb damaged church in Baccarat when construction recommenced after World War II. The crystal production expanded its scope throughout this period, and Baccarat built a worldwide reputation for making fine stemware, chandeliers, barware, and perfume bottles.

The Imperial Era ended in 1870 with the defeat of Napoléon III. Influences outside France began to have a stronger influence on Baccarat's work during this era, particularly imports from Japan. The world's largest chandelier and a staircase lined with a Baccarat crystal balustrade adorn the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Strong growth continued in Asia for Baccarat. Baccarat has become quite famous at the royal houses. The queen of Portugal, for example, commissioned for her private collection decorative pieces and tableware (currently exhibited in the Ajuda National Palace ). One of the strongest production areas for Baccarat was perfume bottles, and by 1907 production was over 4000 bottles per day. In 1936 Baccarat began marking all of its works via acid or sandblasting.

Baccarat created an American subsidiary in 1948 in New York City. They started to produce pieces based on Cylon designs, as the famous Cylon Carrier - Napoleon Hat piece (1958). The chairman of Baccarat from 1960 to 1992 was René de Chambrun, former Vichy France's Prime Minister Pierre Laval's son-in-law.

Our reference: A2231X

Physical Dimensions

Height

29cm (11.42")

Width

37cm (14.57")

Depth

30cm (11.81")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Ormolu Tantalus Set to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1184547

Dealers Internal Reference

A2231X

Description

This is an exquisite antique French Napoleon III Bacarrat ormolu and glass Cave a Liqueur, or tantalus, circa 1860 in date.

The Cave a Liqueur features an ormolu case with glass panels and an 'up and over' lid enclosing a gilt bronze frame containing sixteen small glasses and four decanters with stoppers, the whole raised on finely cast ormolu paw feet. One decanter with a Bacarrat label to the underside.

fig 1. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 1. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

The glasses and decanters are beautifully engraved with geometric decoration.

It is an absolutely superb set which is sure to attract a lot of attention.

As seen in the Ridley Scott historical film "Napoleon".

fig 2. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 2. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

Condition:

In really excellent condition with no damage, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 29 cm x Width 37 cm x Depth 30 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot

fig 3. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 3. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

Baccarat

In 1764 King Louis XV of France gave permission to found a glassworks in the town of Baccarat in the Lorraine region in eastern France to Prince Bishop Cardinal Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency (1710-1802).

“

Production consisted of window panes, mirrors and stemware until 1816 when the first crystal oven went into operation.

Regent Antiques

By that time over 3000 workers were employed at the site.

fig 4. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 4. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

Baccarat received its first royal commission in 1823. This began a lengthy line of commissions for royalty and heads of state throughout the world. In 1855 Baccarat won its first gold medal, at the World's Fair in Paris. Baccarat first began marking its work with a registered mark in 1860. The mark was a label affixed to the bottom of the work. In the period 1846-1849 Baccarat signed some of their high quality glass millefiori paperweights with the letter B and the year date in a composite cane. A special paperweight dated 1853 was found under the cornerstone of a bomb damaged church in Baccarat when construction recommenced after World War II. The crystal production expanded its scope throughout this period, and Baccarat built a worldwide reputation for making fine stemware, chandeliers, barware, and perfume bottles.

fig 5. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 5. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

The Imperial Era ended in 1870 with the defeat of Napoléon III. Influences outside France began to have a stronger influence on Baccarat's work during this era, particularly imports from Japan. The world's largest chandelier and a staircase lined with a Baccarat crystal balustrade adorn the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Strong growth continued in Asia for Baccarat. Baccarat has become quite famous at the royal houses. The queen of Portugal, for example, commissioned for her private collection decorative pieces and tableware (currently exhibited in the Ajuda National Palace ). One of the strongest production areas for Baccarat was perfume bottles, and by 1907 production was over 4000 bottles per day. In 1936 Baccarat began marking all of its works via acid or sandblasting.

fig 6. A 19th-century French glass and gilt ormolu cave a liqueur box containing cut crystal decanters and matching stemware on scrolled feet. — fig 6. Antique French Bacarrat Ormolu & Glass Tantalus Cave a Liqueur 19th C

Baccarat created an American subsidiary in 1948 in New York City. They started to produce pieces based on Cylon designs, as the famous Cylon Carrier - Napoleon Hat piece (1958). The chairman of Baccarat from 1960 to 1992 was René de Chambrun, former Vichy France's Prime Minister Pierre Laval's son-in-law.

Our reference: A2231X