What is a georgian cellarette?

A georgian cellarette is a specialised wooden box or chest built during the eighteenth or nineteenth century to store wine bottles near the dining table. Dining rooms of the period lacked built-in refrigeration, so these vessels held ice and bottles close at hand during long meals.

Servants filled the internal lead-lined compartments with ice and water to chill wine before serving it to guests around the mahogany dining table. Locks fitted to the lids prevented unauthorized access to expensive spirits and port when the dining room was unattended.

How do I spot a later copy?

Later copies often display machine-cut timber joints and modern brassware that lacks the hand-forged irregularity of genuine period hardware. Examine the interior for genuine wear patterns and old lead linings rather than modern replacement materials.

Can I use one as a planter?

Many people repurpose damaged or converted examples as indoor plant stands or jardinières because their waterproof linings suit damp soil. Unconverted pieces with original lead liners work particularly well for holding potted plants in a drawing room.