XII
CELLARETS
THE cellaret is the most peculiarly Southern piece of all furniture. It came into use following the advent of the bottling of wines; and the majority of specimens that have been found are in Chippendale and Hepplewhite styles, with an occasional Queen Anne or earlier example to be noted. They were made complete
Empire cellarets and liquor case
in themselves with a drawer, a mixing slide, and spaces for eight, ten, and twelve bottles; and this characteristic piece of furniture in its various forms is found in great quantities throughout the South, and rarely elsewhere. It is an item often overlooked by collectors.
The word cellaret, in its real meaning, refers to an article of furniture used for cooling wines; but it has come to designate a liquor case or wine cabinet. This use is erroneous, but it is found to be the word most widely accepted, by collectors and dealers, to refer to the different types of wine cabinets as they appear.
At no time was the Southern gentleman freer in his hospitality than in the disposal of his drinks. In South Carolina, Madeira, wine and punch were the common drinks, where, as Hewat says, few gentlemen were without "claret, port and other wines." Everywhere it was the same.
PLATES
PLATE I. Stretcher-Base Cellaret—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1690-1700). An example of the cellaret reaching back into the seventeenth century. This is of the earliest type, and very rare. Notice is directed to the turning as compared to Plate I, Chapter XIII. This date as given is not too early, as cellarets were made occasionally in England at this date. (Property of Mrs. J. G. Hayes).
PLATE II. Top—Queen Anne Cellaret—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1710-1740). Little doubt as to the use of this piece as a liquor chest or cellaret is felt, as it is in the original condition, with partitions intact. The early cellaret was
