What is a cellarette?

A cellarette is a specialised storage chest built to hold wine bottles and spirits safely within the dining room. Inside, these pieces usually feature wooden dividers or metal-lined compartments designed to keep bottles upright and cool.

How do I date a mahogany chest?

Dating relies on observing construction methods, timber choice, hardware styles and overall proportions across periods like Georgian and Victorian. Key indicators include the presence of hand-cut dovetails, secondary woods, specific inlay patterns and the style of brass handles or feet.

Where were these placed?

These chests typically sat in dining rooms, drawing rooms or libraries where hosts entertained guests. Floor-standing wine coolers often rested beneath sideboards or in corners, while smaller decanter boxes sat directly on tabletops.

A tantalus is a locking wooden frame that secures glass decanters so guests can view the contents without pouring them. Popularized during the nineteenth century, it kept expensive spirits safe from unauthorized access by household staff.