A rare George III mahogany cellarette and wine cooler, 
with domed tambour top and removable metal ice bucket,
Circa 1790
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This unusual tambour-top Gardevin, or Cellarette, also doubles as a Wine Cooler; the locking domed-top rolls back to reveal a fine mahogany interior with removable metal ice bucket. With heavy brass bale handles, and raised on square chamfered legs.
 
The term "cellarette" came into use during the eighteenth century at the time of cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite who describes the small portable wine cellar in his Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide of 1794 as providing internal compartments to carry bottles of wine and liquor. In 1803, furniture designer Thomas Sheraton refers to the piece as: "Cellaret, amongst cabinet makers, denotes a convenience for wine, or wine cistern". In the eighteenth century a cellarette was also referred to as a "Mahogany Butler for liquors", a "wine cooler", a "gardevin" or a "bouteillier/butler".
The word bouteillier - butler - was later standardized as a reference to the staff person exercising custodial responsibility over the bottles contained in a cellarette.
 
Retains original key.
 
Measuring 28 inches in length, 29 3/4 inches in height, 21 inches in width, 13 1/2" in depth.
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