Middle Tennessee Federal Cellaret, also known as a Bottle Case or Liquor Stand, walnut and ash with poplar and walnut secondary woods, rectangular dovetailed case with molded hinged top having cleated ends, kite shaped inlaid escutcheon, interior with no evidence of previous dividers. Lower section with single long dovetailed drawer with bead molded edges; old, likely original brass pulls, kite shaped inlaid escutcheon, square tapered legs are extensions of stiles. Included are twelve glass bottles, not original. 41" H x 27" W x 15 3/4" D. Attributed to Davidson County, Tennessee, circa 1815-1825. Illustrated, "Art and Mystery of Tennessee Furniture" by Nathan Harsh and Derita Coleman Williams, ed. Tracey Parks, p. 149 fig. 163. Note: this is one of three known Middle Tennessee cellarettes closely related to about a half dozen North Carolina examples attributed to Joseph Freeman, a cabinetmaker in Gates County (b. 1772-d. 1842). The Tennessee pieces may have been made by a Freeman apprentice who journeyed West. The Tennessee cellarets lack the mixing slides found on the North Carolina ones, and have poplar secondary woods versus yellow pine. For a similar Tennessee example, refer to the catalog for the 2006 "Art of Tennessee," exhibit at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, p. 84, fig. 48. A similar North Carolina example can be seen in "The Furniture of Coastal North Carolina 1700-1820" fig. 6.169. Provenance: The living estate of Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin H. Caldwell, Nashville, TN. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)

Older refinish. Drawer bottom is a replacement with old pest damage. Hinges and molding appear to be original, some dents/damage to both pulls.