COTTAGE FURNITURE BASICS: CELLARETTES

Learn all about this classic entertaining staple and predecessor of the beloved bar cart.

Learn all about this classic predecessor of the well-known, wellloved bar cart.

If you want to add some history to your home, think about getting a cellarette. Cellarettes were first used in Europe in the 15th century as a place for pubs to store alcohol. The lid or drawer locked to prevent anyone from stealing the establishment’s alcohol. Cellarettes first appeared in America in the 1700s and were popular with army officers during the Revolutionary War. Soon cellarettes became a common sight in elite homes too. During the Prohibition of 1920s America, cellarettes were often disguised and painted in a hyperrealistic style to look like part of another piece of furniture, like a bookshelf or a regular table.

Cellarettes came in many different shapes and sizes. Most were made to be a permanent piece of furniture, usually for a dining room. Others were smaller and had handles to be easily portable from room to room. Some cellarettes also served as a basic refrigerator; many were lined with metal so that food and drink would be kept cooler on ice for a longer period of time.

Cellarettes eventually became a status symbol for households with elevated entertaining skills. Today they are more commonly known as bar cabinets. Here are some modern cellarettes that you won’t have to paint like a bookshelf.

1. Caledonia Woven Bar Cabinet, $3,998. (866) 597-2742 or serenaandlily.com.

2. Regency style antique 19th-century mahogany cellarette on stand, $1,295. Visit etsy.com/shop/BucksEstateTraders.

3. Heritage Garrey bar cabinet, $1,369.99. (844) 894-6076 or birchlane.com.

4. Cleo customizable bar cabinet. For pricing and dealers, visit hickorychair.com.