A tantalus is a container for holding two or three glass or crystal bottles of alchoholic drinks. A tantalus may take various forms, the most common being made from silver, silver plate or wood with the three bottles in a circle or two bottles in line with a central handle. A larger version has three bottles in a line with two end supports and a horizontal top and handle. To prevent unauthorised access, some tantalus have a locking mecahnism that prevents the bottles and stoppers being removed from the bottles when secured. A box tantalus, as the name implies is an elaborate wooden box made of a fancy timber such as coramandel, with divisions for the bottles and a lockable lid. Some of these type are designed for liquers and include the liquer glasses set into fitted holders.

52 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Victorian sterling silver four bottle tantalus hallmarked…

Victorian sterling silver four bottle tantalus hallmarked London 1840, maker: Charles Reily & George Storer, with four cut glass decanters/bottles, two pairs slightly different, stoppers may not be original, with chips to three stoppers

Walker & Hall Sheffield tantalus, the only 'Holdfast' patent…

Vintage Walker & Hall Sheffield Tantalus with Lockable Holdfast Patent

Walker & Hall Sheffield tantalus, the only 'Holdfast' patent lockable with key and highly chromed finish A/F two decanters chipping

Good French six bottle boxed decanter set, with a hinged…

French Six Bottle Boxed Decanter Set with Landscape Design

Good French six bottle boxed decanter set, with a hinged cylinder top, painted with a landscape and surrounded by floral sprays and floral garlands, opening to reveal a fitted interior with six gilded decanters and stoppers, 22 cm x 28 cm x 19 cm

A Victorian silver-plated and coloured glass decanter set and…

Victorian Silver-Plated Coloured Glass Decanter Set & Stand

A Victorian silver-plated and coloured glass decanter set and stand. Sheffield, with maker's mark for Roberts & Belk, circa 1880. The stand with leaf cast handle decorated with grotesque masks, supporting three globular decanters ruby, blue and green…

Silverplate three bottle tantalus, with central loop handle set…

Silverplate Tantalus with Three Bottles

Silverplate three bottle tantalus, with central loop handle set above a twist stem, with three pierced bottle wells on a tri-footed base, height 46 cm, bottle height 33 cm

Bristol blue glass decanter set, c.1,800, on a papier mache and…

Antique Bristol Blue Glass Decanter Set on Stand

Bristol blue glass decanter set, c.1,800, on a papier mache and brass stand, three bottle set comprising brandy, Rum and Holland, the bottles with hand painted gilt decoration to body and stoppers, stand height 27 cm, bottle height 20 cm

An Australian cedar and brass tantalus with key and three cut…

Australian Cedar Tantalus with Brass and Cut Glass Decanters

An Australian cedar and brass tantalus with key and three cut glass decanters, length 35 cm

A timber and brass mounted tantalus with key and a set of three…

Timber and Brass Tantalus with Crystal Decanters

A timber and brass mounted tantalus with key and a set of three cut crystal decanters within, length 31.5 cm

A Bohemian crystal seven piece decanter set, early 20th century,…

Bohemian Crystal Decanter Set, Early 20th Century

A Bohemian crystal seven piece decanter set, early 20th century, 26 cm high

An antique three bottle tantalus with hobnail crystal decanters,…

Late 19th Century Hobnail Crystal Tantalus with Three Decanters

An antique three bottle tantalus with hobnail crystal decanters, late 19th century, 31 cm high

Spectacular tortoise shell and ormolu tantalus, rare French…

French Empire Tantalus with Crystal Decanters

Spectacular tortoise shell and ormolu tantalus, rare French Empire with four crystal decanters fitted to the interior

Gerogian tantalus, two crystal decanters with ebonised and…

Georgian Crystal Decanter Tantalus

Gerogian tantalus, two crystal decanters with ebonised and brass cradle

Three bottle sets on stands, early 19th century, comprising two…

Antique Bottle Sets on Stands

Three bottle sets on stands, early 19th century, comprising two three bottle (associated) cruet sets on stands and a Regency three bottle decanter set, with mother of pearl inset cork stoppers in a leather mounted decanter stand, the decanter set 26.5 cm…

Gilt-silver and enamel drinking set, decorated with floral…

Enamel Drinking Set with Floral Motifs

Gilt-silver and enamel drinking set, decorated with floral motifs in black, grey and white enamel, comprising a bottle, platter and six glasses, hallmarked, boxed (8), height 21 cm (bottle), diameter 18.5 cm (platter). Provenance: Private Collection,…

John William Hallion, Surgeon Superintendent on the convict…

John William Hallion's Silver Decanter Stand and Crystal Decanters

John William Hallion, Surgeon Superintendent on the convict ships 'Alexander' in 1816 & 'Isabella'., sterling silver four bottle decanter stand, made in London in 1806 with accompanying set of four crystal decanters., 29 cm high, silver weight 1360 grams.…

Victorian sterling silver tantalus, hallmarked Birmingham, 1865,…

Victorian Sterling Silver Tantalus with Crystal Decanters

Victorian sterling silver tantalus, hallmarked Birmingham, 1865, E & Co (Elkington & Co Ltd), with central loop handle and gadrooned supports encasing three facetted crystal decanters with stoppers, on a sterling silver base with engine turned decoration,…

An English four bottle tantalus stand. Having four hobnail cup…

Hobnail Crystal Decanter Tantalus Stand

An English four bottle tantalus stand. Having four hobnail cup crystal decanters.

A French decanter set in gilt bronze stands, 19th century, 24…

19th Century French Gilt Bronze Decanter Set

A French decanter set in gilt bronze stands, 19th century, 24 cm high

Crystal decanter tantalus, height 38 cm width 45 cm  depth 19…

Triple Crystal Decanter Tantalus in Metal Frame

Crystal decanter tantalus, height 38 cm width 45 cm depth 19 cm well fitted into a decorative metal structure with a timber base and featuring three large crystal lidded decanters.

French Art Deco tantalus, marked Depose Prodhon, comprising two…

Art Deco Crystal Tantalus with Two Decanters

French Art Deco tantalus, marked Depose Prodhon, comprising two cut crystal decanters, of globular form with stoppers, in clear and green glass, on a stepped oval base, with key, height 27 cm, width 48 cm

An antique French opaline decanter set, late 19th century,…

French Opaline Decanter Set with Gilded Bird Decoration

An antique French opaline decanter set, late 19th century, comprising a tray, conical decanter, pedestal cordial glasses and a bowl (lid, absent), in mint green with white enamel and gilded decoration of birds amongst, vegetation, height 27.5 cm (decanter)

Three matching cut crystal tantalus decanters height 23 cm,

Set of Three Cut Crystal Tantalus Decanters

Three matching cut crystal tantalus decanters height 23 cm,

A small collection of etched and gilded glassware, 19th century…

Etched and Gilded Glassware Collection

A small collection of etched and gilded glassware, 19th century and later, comprising a flower and bird etched amber glass dish, probably German, a set of three Bohemia crystal small decanter and a small millefiori paperweight; the platter 25 cm diameter.

An Art Deco Czech crystal decanter and six glasses, decorated…

Ruby Flashed Art Deco Czech Crystal Decanter Set

An Art Deco Czech crystal decanter and six glasses, decorated with ruby flashed and cut geometric pattern.

An early 20th century Dutch silver decanter set, the stand…

Dutch Silver Decanter Set with Etched Bottles and Stand

An early 20th century Dutch silver decanter set, the stand decorated in the 19th century manner, contains three shaped and etched bottles with conforming silver collars and stoppers, date marked 1928. 14 cm x 28.5 cm

Four piece Art Deco amber glass set, including decanter and 3…

Art Deco Amber Glass Decanter Set

Four piece Art Deco amber glass set, including decanter and 3 glasses

A Georgian sterling silver 4 bottle tantalus 1812 London, the…

Georgian Sterling Silver 4 Bottle Tantalus 1812 London

A Georgian sterling silver 4 bottle tantalus 1812 London, the mark of William Bateman height 19.8 cm, base weight: 1014gms

A Victorian rose wood tantalus, three bottles, with paua shell…

Victorian Rosewood Tantalus with Paua Inlay and Three Bottles

A Victorian rose wood tantalus, three bottles, with paua shell inlay. Height 21 cm

A Murano Limoncello set for six, with etched vine detail & blue…

Murano Limoncello Set for Six with Etched Vine Detail

A Murano Limoncello set for six, with etched vine detail & blue stems, height 21 cm [decanter]

Six piece Bohemian etched crystal cocktail set, etched gilt…

Bohemian Etched Crystal Cocktail Set with Gilt Decoration

Six piece Bohemian etched crystal cocktail set, etched gilt decoration. Including 5 glasses and decanter.

A Black Forest carved decanter stand, c.1900, carved as a bear…

Bear Decanter Stand with Glasses

A Black Forest carved decanter stand, c.1900, carved as a bear carrying a tree-trunk section on his back, the tree supports a small decanter and six glasses hang from protruding branches. Height 41 cm

An unusual Edwardian chrome three bottle tantalus, 35 cm high

Edwardian Chrome Tantalus with 3 Bottles

An unusual Edwardian chrome three bottle tantalus, 35 cm high

A Tantalus with 3 hobnail cut crystal decanters, late 19th…

Hobnail Crystal Tantalus, Late 19th Century

A Tantalus with 3 hobnail cut crystal decanters, late 19th early 20th century. 32 cm high, 41 cm wide

Tantalus with pair of glass whisky decanters

Tantalizing Whisky Decanters

Tantalus with pair of glass whisky decanters

A James Dixon & Sons silver-plate three-bottle tantalus, chips…

Chipped James Dixon & Sons Tantalus with 3 Bottles

A James Dixon & Sons silver-plate three-bottle tantalus, chips to the rim of one bottle, and chips to the bottom of each stopper

A three-bottle tantalus

Three-Bottle Tantalus Set

A three-bottle tantalus

Antique English 3 decanter tantalus by Betjemanns, London, 41.5…

Antique English Betjemanns Tantalus with 3 Decanters

Antique English 3 decanter tantalus by Betjemanns, London, 41.5 cm wide

An Israeli five piece sterling silver wine decanter set, later…

Hazorfim Sterling Silver Wine Decanter Set with Grape Design

An Israeli five piece sterling silver wine decanter set, later 20th century, with maker's mark for Hazorfim,. 925, the bottle vase decanter with a slender trumpet neck and a shaped stopper, the body embossed and chased with a continuous grape and vine…

Tantalus (one decanter missing stopper), approx 33 cm high, 33…

Antique Tantalus Decanter Set with Missing Stopper

Tantalus (one decanter missing stopper), approx 33 cm high, 33 cm wide, 12 cm deep

Edwardian electo-plated 3 decanter tantalus 38 cm wide

Electro-Plated Edwardian Tantalus with 3 Decanters

Edwardian electo-plated 3 decanter tantalus 38 cm wide

A bevel glazed marquetry ivory inlaid ebonized drinks cabinet,…

Ebonized Drinks Cabinet with Marquetry Inlay and Etched Glassware

A bevel glazed marquetry ivory inlaid ebonized drinks cabinet, English, 19th century, including four etched glass decanters and glasses, 28 cm high, 36 cm wide, 28 cm deep

A Bohemian cobalt blue and gilt overlay decanter set with six…

Cobalt Blue Decanter Set with Gilt Overlay and Bell

A Bohemian cobalt blue and gilt overlay decanter set with six glasses and a bell. Decanter height 24 cm. (8)

Large vintage 3 bottle tantalus, with ruby flashed glass…

Vintage Tantalus with Ruby Flashed Glass Decanters

Large vintage 3 bottle tantalus, with ruby flashed glass decanters, 50 cm high approx

Two bottle tantalus, 30 cm tall

30cm Tantalus with Dual Bottles

Two bottle tantalus, 30 cm tall

Three bottle tantalus, approx 40 cm high

Triple Tantalizing Tantabus

Three bottle tantalus, approx 40 cm high

Antique three bottle tantalus, includes key, approx 36 cm high,…

Antique Three Bottle Tantalus with Key

Antique three bottle tantalus, includes key, approx 36 cm high, 37 cm wide

English tantalus with crystal decanters & spirit labels, approx…

Crystal Decanter Tantalus with Spirit Labels

English tantalus with crystal decanters & spirit labels, approx 31 cm high, 36 cm wide

Ruby glass tantalus

Ruby Tantalus

Ruby glass tantalus

Victorian ruby glass 4pcs part decanter set, c.1880's,…

Victorian Ruby Glass 4-Piece Decanter Set

Victorian ruby glass 4pcs part decanter set, c.1880's, comprising of a decanter with stopper, two, drinking glasses and an ice bucket, decanter height 24 cm

Whisky bottles in tantalus

Tantalizing Whisky Tantalus

Whisky bottles in tantalus

Silver-plated two bottle tantalus (odd decanters)

Silver Tantalus with Unique Decanters

Silver-plated two bottle tantalus (odd decanters)

Betjemanns of London brass tantalus, with two probable…

Brass Tantalus with Decanters

Betjemanns of London brass tantalus, with two probable replacement decanters. No key. Height 34 cm