Why is it called a tantalus?

The name alludes to Tantalus, kept in sight of what he could not reach. The decanters sit on open display but stay locked into the frame. It was a household arrangement: spirits out on the sideboard, but nobody helping themselves.

How many decanters does one hold?

Three is the standard, and the phrase turns up in dozens of titles on Sellingantiques. Two-bottle frames are common as well, and the archive holds single-bottle examples and a handful of four-decanter cases.

What wood are they usually made from?

Oak dominates, in two fifths of titles, often described as golden, blonde or polished oak. Victorian oak is the single commonest pairing. Walnut, burr walnut, coromandel and mahogany make up much of the rest, with rosewood, satinwood, calamander and thuya appearing far less often.

What period do they date from?

Dealer dates run from 1850 to 1930. The 1880s is the busiest decade, followed by the 1890s and 1900s. Victorian is the label attached to nearly half the titles, with Edwardian a distant second. Anything claimed earlier than 1850 is isolated here.

What is a games compendium tantalus?

A case with a fitted drawer of games beneath the decanters. Around one in ten examples in the archive doubles this way. They sit above the middle of the range, since the extra fitment adds to what a buyer is getting.

Are silver-plated tantaluses different from cased ones?

Yes. A plated or brass frame is an open carrier, the decanters visible on all sides, with a locking bar across the tops. They account for about a sixth of the archive, and their share of current stock is higher than their share of past sales.

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A tantalus is a lockable wooden or plated frame holding two, three or four decanters, built so spirits could stand on show in a dining or billiard room without anyone lifting a bottle out.