Brass Mounted Cellarette
A brass mounted cellarette is a heavy, timber-built wine cooler designed to hold bottles near the dining table, combining rich mahogany with polished metal fittings.
Brass Mounted Cellarette
When you search for a brass mounted cellarette, you are looking at substantial wooden storage vessels built to keep wine cold or secure during dinner services. The pieces on this page span the 18th century, the Georgian period, the Regency era, and the Victorian age, alongside Anglo-Indian and French Louis XVI styles.
You are most likely to meet mahogany examples taking the form of octagonal boxes, sarcophagus shapes, or decanter boxes resting on stands. Other variations include teak, rosewood, and coromandel constructions, sometimes linked to military campaign use or elaborate marquetry.
These items frequently overlap with decanter boxes, jardinieres, wine coolers, and occasional trunks or chests. The brass mountings provide structural reinforcement and decorative contrast to the dark hardwoods.
Judging the standard
Quality rests primarily on the grain and figure of the primary timber, the weight and finish of the cast brass mounts, and the integrity of the internal joinery. Pieces that retain their original fitted interior compartments and functioning locks command higher regard than those stripped of their internal fittings.
Proportion and execution define the better examples, where the brass mounts follow the contours of the timber precisely rather than appearing clumsy or later in date. The harmony between the wood, such as figured mahogany or coromandel, and the metal hardware dictates the visual success of the piece.
Brass Mounted Cellarette Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for brass mounted cellarette among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature woods spanning mahogany, teak, kingwood, rosewood, and coromandel, alongside brass and ormolu mounts.
Samual Norman
The Brass Mounted Cellarette Glossary
- Cellarette
- A lockable container used for storing wine and spirits in the dining room. They were often lined with lead or zinc originally to hold ice.
- Sarcophagus form
- A distinct box shape featuring a domed or sloping lid with flared sides, popular during the Regency period. It draws its name from classical stone coffins.
- Campaign chest
- A modular piece of furniture made in sections with recessed brass handles for ease of transport during military expeditions. These often double as general storage or drinks cabinets.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze mounts applied to furniture for decorative effect. The technique was particularly favoured in French Louis XVI and later revival styles.
Brass Mounted Cellarette: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cellarette used for?
A cellarette served as a secure, movable cellar for storing wine bottles and decanters near the dining table.
Servants kept them stocked so guests could be served without frequent trips to the main wine cellar.
How do I date a cellarette?
Dating relies on timber choices, cabinetmaking techniques, and prevailing architectural styles such as Georgian straight lines or Regency curves.
Brass hardware styles and internal lining remnants also offer clear clues to the decade of manufacture.
Were these lined with metal?
Many wine coolers featured internal lead or zinc linings to hold ice and water for chilling bottles.
Over the years, these linings were often removed or replaced, which collectors note when examining a piece.
Where should I place a cellarette?
These substantial wooden pieces suit dining rooms, large hallways, or living spaces as statement storage units.
Their sturdy tops also allow them to function as serving surfaces or display stands for decorative objects.