Early 20th-Century Rigidex Iron Wine Bottle Rack (Up to 150 Bottles) - 65¼" x 20¾"

Handsome and architectural, this tall iron wine bottle rack takes the form of a four-sided cage with a hinged door and diagonal bracing, likely French, early 20th century. Made of riveted strap iron with undulating wire supports arranged in horizontal tiers, it holds up to 150 bottles in a secure, ventilated framework, arranged in a double-depth configuration of 75 bottles per side. The latch on the front bears the _Rigidex_ mark, identifying it as part of a well-regarded French workshop production. The back features pierced plates for wall mounting, ensuring total stability. The iron shows an even, dark patina with areas of surface oxidation and light deformation to a few wires. No padlock included.

These lockable cellar racks were standard fittings in private estates and restaurants, designed to store bottles horizontally so the corks remained moist while allowing air circulation and easy inventory. The riveted construction and simple triangulated braces reflect utilitarian workshop practice before widespread electric welding, part of the industrial vocabulary that shaped cellar equipment in France between the wars. Such racks balanced practicality with longevity, resisting damp conditions in stone-vaulted wine cellars while deterring pilferage with a padlock on the door.

This piece lends strong character to a wine room, pantry, or loft kitchen, where its gridwork becomes a sculptural backdrop for green and amber glass. In a hospitality setting, it anchors a tasting corner or back bar while organizing a diverse cellar by vintage and region. For a more eclectic approach, place it in a mudroom or conservatory as a dramatic storage tower for bottles of mineral water or seasonal presses, letting the timeworn iron add quiet industrial texture to refined interiors.