Description

Rare Model with Original Blue Hue Bottles 

From our Decanter collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this Art Deco Twin Bottle Tantalus George Betjemann. The Twin Bottle Tantalus a rare example with silver plated frame housing two unusual blue hue cut glass decanters with faceted glass stoppers and square cut design. Each side of the Tantalus frame is signed ‘The Tantalus’ with GB&S in an oval cartouche and “Betjemann Patent London’. The inside of the frame contains the registration/model number 65957. The rt Deco Twin Bottle Tantalus George Betjemann dates to the first half of the 19th century during the Art Deco period circa 1930.

The Art Deco Twin Bottle Tantalus George Betjemann comes complete with a working lock and tasselled key.

Measurements (inches) 10.6 High x 10.24 Wide x 4.7 Deep

Literature Mark Goodger 25th Anniversary Catalogue page 56 

George Betjemann & Sons was a celebrated British firm of cabinet makers and retailers founded in the mid-19th century. Renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, the company quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the finest writing boxes and other luxury desk accessories of their time. Specializing in the use of high-quality materials such as rare woods, brass, and exotic leathers, George Betjemann & Sons catered to an elite clientele of royalty, nobility, and wealthy collectors, who appreciated the firm’s commitment to innovation, elegance, and functionality. The Betjemann family’s passion for craftsmanship was passed down from generation to generation, ensuring that the company’s legacy of exceptional design and quality endured for over a century. Today, antique pieces by George Betjemann & Sons are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike, revered for their timeless beauty and historical significance.

Tantalus, the origin traces back to the 19th century in England when a German born cabinetmaker George Betjemann patented the Tantalus model in 1881 (UK Patent 58948). Betjemann & Sons had workshops at 34–42 Pentonville Road, London from the 1830s specialising in high quality Boxes for various uses and Decanter sets including the Tantalus. 

The name ‘Tantalus’ is a reference to the unsatisfied temptations of the Greek mythological character Tantalus, son of Zeus. It is told that he was trapped in Tartarus, made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low hanging branches. The fruit would forever elude his grasp and the pool would recede before he was able to quench his thirst. The story is in reference to the lockable aspect of the Tantalus eluding anyone trying to access the decanters without the key.

Art Deco was a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first appeared in France in the 1910s. It flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920s to early 1930s. It was hugely prevalent through styling and design of the exterior and interior of anything from large structures to small objects and even influenced fashion and jewellery. Art Deco has influenced bridges, buildings, ships, ocean liners, trains, cars, trucks, buses, furniture, and everyday objects like radios and vacuum cleaners. It has become extremely popular today and is highly desirable to collectors and trendsetters in the fashion industry.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

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