Absinthe Topette, Antique Bar Item, Held Ten Doses

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. 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 are, for example, some bubbles in the glass, two of which can be seen at the closeup photograph. These bubbles are not indications of damage, but occurred in the making. This one is 7 1/2 inches tall and dates from about 1900 or earlier. It is a handsome collectible from the Belle Epoque.