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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 1 franc 75 centime price with light blue rim and mostly worn gilt line decoration. This is a guaranteed 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. When you ordered, each drink was served on a priced saucer...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 1 franc 25 centime price with light blue rim and mostly worn gilt line decoration. This is a guaranteed 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. When you ordered, each drink was served on a priced saucer...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 3 franc 50 centime price and scarce silver-gilt rim and line decoration. This is a guaranteed 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. When you ordered, each drink was served on a priced saucer...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 5 franc price and scarce silver-gilt rim and line decoration. Less saucers were made with high prices on them and are consequently harder to find. Most saucers of this pre-ban period had considerably lower prices on them. This is a guaranteed 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...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 2 franc 50 centime price with yellow rim and gilt line decoration. This is a guaranteed 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. When you ordered, each drink was served on a priced saucer...

French absinthe era bar saucer with 1 franc 75 centime price and scarce silver-gilt rim and line decoration. This is a guaranteed 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. When you ordered, each drink was served on a priced saucer. The saucers were stacked by your place and when you were ready to pay l'addition (the bill), the barman or waiter simply added up t...