Antique Victorian solid oak tantalum for three decanters for spirits with metal trim. England, 20th century. Three decanters, 5 glasses - glass.Tantalus is a wooden cabinet designed for two or three decanters. What distinguishes tantalum is that it can be locked with a key. This was invented so that no one else could have access except the owner of the tantalum. A kind of tantalus torment, which reminds of the inability to get what you want. The hero of the myths of Ancient Greece - Tantalus - was punished by his father Zeus in this way: standing in the water in the kingdom of Hades, he could not get a drink and reach the grapes above him.