Handsome French bar saucer from the absinthe period (pre-1915) with 60-centime price and blue border edged by black hairlines. This is a genuine turn-of-the-century saucer or soucoupe from the Belle Epoque when poets and artists drank the addictive wormwood-based drink absinthe which was banned in France in 1915. You sat at the bar and drank, each drink being served on a priced saucer...

Antique blown glass topette with eight rings from an old French bar. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses were consumed. This topette was hand blown in heavy lead glass, has a nice polished pontil on the bottom and shows the wear marks on the bottom one likes to see on antique pieces...

Antique blown glass topette with six rings from an old French bar. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses he or she consumed. This topette was hand blown in heavy lead glass, has a nice polished pontil on the bottom and also has some of the characteristics one finds in hand blown pieces...

Rare antique blown glass topette with ten rings from an old French bar. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses he or she consumed. This is an unusually large one; those holding 10 doses are quite rare...

Absinthe era saucer from a French bar with a burgundy rim. This is an actual saucer from the late 19th or very early 20th century that was used in a bar in the Charente Martime departement in the Southwest of the country. It measures 4 7/8 inches in diameter. There is some wear to the rim decoration from long years of use. The back is glazed. There are a couple of small chips on the inside of the foot but they are really not noticeable when it is on a table or other flat surface...

Fine quality absinthe spoon, Les Carrés #10, circa 1900 with the maker’s poinçon or mark on the back of the handle (the mark, however, is struck poorly so it is difficult to read). These spoons were placed over a glass with a sugar cube on top, and the water was poured over the cube to reduce the bitterness of the absinthe. This is guaranteed to be a period absinthe spoon from a French bar; it is not one of the many reproductions which are being sold on the Internet...

Vintage French absinthe spoon, Les Feuilles #1, circa 1900. These spoons were placed over a glass with a sugar cube on top, and the water was poured over the cube to reduce the bitterness of the absinthe. This is guaranteed to be a period absinthe spoon from a French bar; it is not one of the many reproductions which are being sold on the Internet. It is in very good condition, showing some stains and oxidation from use...

Vintage French absinthe spoon, Les Feuilles #2, circa 1900. These spoons were placed over a glass with a sugar cube on top, and the water was poured over the cube to reduce the bitterness of the absinthe. This is guaranteed to be a period absinthe spoon from a French bar; it is not one of the many reproductions which are being sold on the Internet. It is in very good condition, showing some spots where the plating has worn from use exposing the brass underneath...

Vintage French absinthe spoon, Les Pipes #7, circa 1900. These spoons were placed over a glass with a sugar cube on top, and the water was poured over the cube to reduce the bitterness of the absinthe. This is guaranteed to be a period absinthe spoon from a French bar; it is not one of the many reproductions which are being sold on the Internet. It is in very good condition, showing some stains and oxidation from use...

Antique blown glass topette from an old French bar holding three doses or portions. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses he or she consumed. This topette was hand blown in heavy lead glass and has a nice partially polished pontil on the bottom...

Antique blown glass topette with original stopper from an old French bar holding three doses or portions. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses he or she consumed. This topette was hand blown in heavy lead glass, has a nice polished pontil on the bottom. This one is 5 1/4 inches tall to the top of the stopper, and dates from about 1900 or earlier. It...

Antique blown glass topette with three rings from an old French bar. Each ring represented a dose, or one drink, of absinthe, which was diluted with water, often poured over a sugar cube, before drinking. The bar patron was charged for however many doses he or she consumed. This topette was hand blown in heavy lead glass, has a nice polished pontil on the bottom and also has some of the characteristics one finds in hand blown pieces. There is, for example, a bubble in the glass, which i...