Mahogany Wine Cellaret
These mahogany wine cellaret examples are sturdy timber containers designed to hold bottles securely at table height.
Mahogany Wine Cellaret
Buyers will encounter several distinct shapes among these listings, including octagonal boxes, serpentine fronts, and classical sarcophagus forms. Many pieces retain original internal lead linings designed to hold ice for chilling bottles.
Makers constructed these vessels from dense tropical timber, frequently mounting them upon low stands or brass castors for movement across dining floors.
How they were made
Cabinetmakers utilised dense mahogany timber, often selecting figured grains for the exterior surfaces of each cellaret. They reinforced structural corners with substantial brass banding and fitted secure handles for lifting.
Internal compartments were lined with lead to manage melting ice, whilst exterior details incorporated satinwood inlay, ormolu mounts, and carved mahogany accents.
Mahogany Wine Cellaret Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for mahogany wine cellaret 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.
Some nineteenth-century cellarets include internal lead plugs designed to let melted ice drain straight onto the dining room floor.
What varies in quality
The sophistication of the timber figure and the crispness of brass mounts distinguish superior examples from plain utility boxes. Superior pieces display complex serpentine shapes and intricate satinwood or boxwood banding.
Internal preservation also separates standard pieces from the finest survivors, particularly where original lead linings and internal bottle dividers remain intact.
Robert Strahan and Co·Gillows
The Mahogany Wine Cellaret Glossary
- Cellaret
- A lockable container used for storing wine bottles near the dining table before service.
- Sarcophagus
- A classical chest form with a sloping lid, popular for Regency period wine coolers.
- Brass-bound
- A construction technique where metal bands reinforce the structural corners of wooden boxes.
- Serpentine
- A curved furniture front featuring a convex centre flanked by concave wings.
Mahogany Wine Cellaret: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a wine cellaret?
A wine cellaret is a sturdy wooden box designed to hold multiple bottles of wine securely near a dining table.
Historically, these containers kept bottles chilled and protected before servants poured drinks for guests.
How were cellarets used?
Cellarets stood on the floor beneath sideboards or beside dining tables during large meals.
Their lead-lined interiors held ice to keep white wine or champagne cool throughout the evening.
How do I date a cellaret?
Dating relies on observing stylistic details such as brass banding, leg supports, and overall cabinet shapes.
Georgian examples tend to feature straight or octagonal sides, whilst Regency pieces often adopt classical sarcophagus forms.
Where should I place one?
These boxes suit dining rooms, living spaces, or hallways as statement furniture pieces with practical storage.
They work well positioned beneath side tables or used to display decorative items on their flat lids.