Description

Antique coromandel decanter box with brass edging, vacant initial plate and escutcheon.
The interior is lined in black leather and contains three plain cut glass decanters with spouts and faceted stoppers. In the underside of the main lid there is two spirit glasses.
The back edge of the open box has a brass retailers plaque which reads: “Houghton & Gunn: 162. New Bond St London”
This brass bound three decanter coromandel decanter box comes with a fully working lock and tasselled key.

All our items come with authentication certificate with image, as well as our latest catalogue, care instructions and separate invoice for insurance purposes. On top of this our items come with 14 day no quibble money back guarantee and are all fully insured for when shipping.

Wine and Spirit drinking have a very long history, and so has the making of special containers to house them.
The meaning of the word Tantalus is to tantalise. In Greek Mythology , after Tantalus offended the Gods, he was condemned to an eternity of hunger and thirst in the afterlife. He was imprisoned in a pool of water surrounded by fruit trees but each time he reached out to drink the water or eat the fruit, the water drained away and the branches of the trees moved out of his reach!
Tantalus is a decorative stand, case or box for glass or cut glass decanters. The first lockable Tantalus appeared around the mid 19th Century and was first seen in England around 1870. The decanted alcohol can only be accessed by unlocking and raising or lowering a handle or bar. The Tantalus was first used by the owners of large, grand houses of this period to protect the decanted alcohol from being drunk by their butlers & other staff. Therefore the alcohol was kept just out of reach – just as in the story ofTantalus!
Our varied selection of Tantalus & Decanters make excellent corporate gifts, aswell as for special occasions such as a retirement or wedding. They also make a great focal and talking point at a Dinner Party, or simply to look handsome in a Dining or Drawing Room!

Additional information