Cages
Muselets & Capsulets
Champagne cork cages are called muselets (mōō–sä–lā). Metal cork caps, which keep the cork in the champagne bottle, are called capsulets (kap–sä–lā)..
Evolution of Muselets and Capsulets
Early 19th Century
Veuve Clicquot is credited with developing both degorgement and remuage (1816). Remuage (shaking) or riddling (a series of quarter or half quarter turns) removes the sugar and yeast sediment from the side of a slanted bottle to the neck. Remuage is an average 8-12 week process. Remuage is done on special A-frame racks called pupitres. A good remueur can riddle up to 50,000 bottles a day.
Prior to 1844
Champagne bottles were sealed with a naked cork stopper held on with oil soaked hemp string and sealing wax. A drop of oil was added to the top of the Champagne to prevent bacteria growth.
November 15, 1844
Adolphe Jacquesson (1800-1876) invented and patented the present-day cork stopper with a tin wire muselet to keep the cork sealing the bottle.
1881
Producers started using tin metal capsulets to cover the cork stoppers. Soon after, three or four notches were added to the capsulet, allowing the wire of the muselet to be tightened more securely.
 Generic #742a |
 Pierre Louis Lesage |
 Lion's Club |
 Philippe Massonnot |
End of 19th century
Vintners started decorating sparkling wine bottle tops, first with a simple stamping of the word champagne with a star on a metal plate, then shortly thereafter with a painted cap. (It had only been a few years earlier that they started labeling bottles.)
Early 20th century
Producers began adding their name, trademark, slogan, etc., on capsulets as a way of advertising. Today many decorate their caps in a rainbow of colors, emblems and logos and these small metal discs are now miniature masterpieces.
My Cage Collection
| ID | Circular Wire | Straight Wire | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 | Gold | Gold | |
| 0002 | Black | Black | |
| 0003 | Metal | Metal | |
| 0004 | Black | Black | Gold larger ring |
| 0005 | Silver | Silver | |
| 0006 | White | White | |
| 0007 | Gold | Gold | Metal larger ring |
| 0008 | Green | Green | |
| 0009 | Bronze | Bronze | Gold larger ring |
| 0010 | Blue | Blue | |
| 0011 | Rose | Rose | |
| 0012 | Metal | Metal | Tag Leg - VCP |
| 0013 | Red | Red |
