Plaque de muselet

French · cage cap

The plaque de muselet is the metal cap on top of the cork under the wire cage; Adolphe Jacquesson patented a tinplate plaque on 5 July 1844.1,2

The plaque often shows the producer's name.3,4 It sits under the wire of the muselet and protects the top of the bouchon.

The patent predates the first wire cages, which the Union des Maisons de Champagne dates to around 1880; earlier closures relied on string (ficelle) and clips (agrafe).2 Today the cage is fitted by an automated machine, the museleteuse.3 See corking and history of technique.

See also

MuseletGlossaryCork and wire cageMethodsInventions: cork, bottle, riddling, museletHistoryBouchonGlossary

Sources

  1. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)
  2. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The history of the muselet and its collectable plaque
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Corking and muselage
  4. Comité Champagne (champagne.fr). Corking, shaking and final inspection

Facts checked on 2026-10-19