French Wine Crate Find

I would have missed this beautiful French wine crate at a recent estate sale

if Ron hadn't spotted it hiding in the corner of a dark basement laundry room. 

The wood looked old and, when I saw it was from France, 

I went a little crazy and plunked down $7 for it!

I love all old crates but this one had such a warm honey tone,

fancy writing, and even wooden slots for twelve bottles inside. 

It knew it was special but couldn't begin to guess just how special it was. 

When I took it home, I looked up Chateau la Fleur Petrus and found out

it was a fancy Bordeaux wine from a vineyard near Petrus on the famous Pomerol plateau. 

The estate's original French Country chateau was built in 1782 and 

the wine traces its history to the late 1800's. 

I thought the engraving on the front was gorgeous.

I think the little critter may be a wild boar's head???

If the 1962 date is the age of the crate, it's 55 years old,

thus the mellow aged look. 

We thought it might be fun to go to our favorite wine store and buy a bottle to display in the crate. 

Are you ready for a shocker?

A very knowledgeable man there told us they didn't carry this wine because 

it was usually only available at auction and went for between $220 and $3,500 a bottle!

He said people who bought it often rented an armored truck to have it delivered.

So, I guess we'll probably just put something else in the crate. 

(Internet photo)

I wasn't sure how I would style it so I began to layer things to create a pleasant design.

I started with some white flowers in a white vase for height

then added some teal-colored bottles and mason jars for sparkle.

We'd just trimmed the crabapple tree in our back yard so I snagged some branches 

and added them to the design to fill in the gaps.

My big white Limoges platter with pale blue flowers was the perfect backdrop

for the arrangement and the crate's bottle racks worked just like a plate rail. 

I don't claim to be a floral designer

but I think it makes a pretty Spring centerpiece.

I can just imagine this crate in the winter,

filled with big pine cones, some tall candles and a bottle of wine or 

stacked with old books, an ironstone pitcher and some vintage linens in the summer. 

Definitely, one of my favorite finds!

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.

Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.

You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.

Thank you so much! 

***

Linking with:

Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,

A Stroll Thru Life, Botanic Bleu, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome LIfe, 

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Peonies and Orange Blossoms,

Adirondack Girl at Heart, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage