| Posted in absinthe originals, toppette | Posted on 3/06/2013
Absinthe Originals has just been updated with more absinthe glasses, spoons, carafes, topettes and matchstrikers (pyrogènes).
I'd like to specially bring your attention on the 15-doses topette etched with the word "absinthe" in a leaf. This is the first time I find such a topette and it looks like it's coming from the Croismare glassworks. Have a look at their circa 1900 catalog side by side with the topette:
Here is a short article about topettes I wrote back in September last year. If you've already read it, feel free to skip it and have a look at my special offer further down.
Origins and uses of topettes
"Topette" is the French name for a glass flask. Kind of. Originally, in the 18th century, a topette was a small narrow bottle, made for carrying alcohol discreetly anywhere. In the 19th century, topettes became little carafes with delimited doses; each dose being indicated either by an etched or enamelled number, or by a prominent fold. They were then called "carafons diviseurs" in French glassworks catalogues, which you could translate into "small divider carafes".
Their use was quite simple: an absintheur could stay all afternoon seated in a bistro with only 3 things on his table: a glass, a carafe filled with ice-cold water, and a topette. Once he had finished, all the bartender had to do was to count the number of absinthe doses missing in the topette and give him the bill.
postcard showing topettes on a French bar (collection of Scott MacDonald)
We believe that topettes were also used at home. Instead of buying a full bottle, absintheurs could buy 5, 8 or 10 doses of absinthe at the bistro just round the corner.
Special offer
Any order qualifying for free shipping (from 250 Euros) will receive a free 4/5 doses antique topette like this:
The topette will, of course, be shipped empty but with a cork so that you can use it straight away.
www.absintheoriginals.com
I'd like to specially bring your attention on the 15-doses topette etched with the word "absinthe" in a leaf. This is the first time I find such a topette and it looks like it's coming from the Croismare glassworks. Have a look at their circa 1900 catalog side by side with the topette:
Here is a short article about topettes I wrote back in September last year. If you've already read it, feel free to skip it and have a look at my special offer further down.
Origins and uses of topettes
"Topette" is the French name for a glass flask. Kind of. Originally, in the 18th century, a topette was a small narrow bottle, made for carrying alcohol discreetly anywhere. In the 19th century, topettes became little carafes with delimited doses; each dose being indicated either by an etched or enamelled number, or by a prominent fold. They were then called "carafons diviseurs" in French glassworks catalogues, which you could translate into "small divider carafes".
Their use was quite simple: an absintheur could stay all afternoon seated in a bistro with only 3 things on his table: a glass, a carafe filled with ice-cold water, and a topette. Once he had finished, all the bartender had to do was to count the number of absinthe doses missing in the topette and give him the bill.
postcard showing topettes on a French bar (collection of Scott MacDonald)
We believe that topettes were also used at home. Instead of buying a full bottle, absintheurs could buy 5, 8 or 10 doses of absinthe at the bistro just round the corner.
Special offer
Any order qualifying for free shipping (from 250 Euros) will receive a free 4/5 doses antique topette like this:
The topette will, of course, be shipped empty but with a cork so that you can use it straight away.
www.absintheoriginals.com
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