| The Virtual Absinthe Museum |
| Absinthe history, literature, art and antiques |
The Virtual Absinthe Museum showcases the Oxygénée collection of
absinthiana - a range of original artifacts documenting every aspect of
the history of La Fee Verte, from its use as a medicinal elixir in ancient
times, to its heyday as a fashionable aperitif in the 19th century and its
prohibition at the beginning of the 20th.
Here you'll find examples of the rarest and most beautiful absinthe
spoons, glasses that glow green because of their uranium content,
absinthe fountains, carafes and pitchers, art nouveau-style advertising
cartons and posters, catalogues, invoices and ephemera from the leading
absinthe distillers, books, journals and newspapers of every description,
propaganda from the anti-absinthe temperance movement, and
counter-propaganda from the equally passionate supporters of the Green
Fairy - the whole fabled history of absinthe is here.
absinthiana - a range of original artifacts documenting every aspect of
the history of La Fee Verte, from its use as a medicinal elixir in ancient
times, to its heyday as a fashionable aperitif in the 19th century and its
prohibition at the beginning of the 20th.
Here you'll find examples of the rarest and most beautiful absinthe
spoons, glasses that glow green because of their uranium content,
absinthe fountains, carafes and pitchers, art nouveau-style advertising
cartons and posters, catalogues, invoices and ephemera from the leading
absinthe distillers, books, journals and newspapers of every description,
propaganda from the anti-absinthe temperance movement, and
counter-propaganda from the equally passionate supporters of the Green
Fairy - the whole fabled history of absinthe is here.
Absinthe Spoons
The quintessential absinthe accoutrement - perforated spoons for holding the sugar cube over the glass. Usually made from
plated brass, tin or nickel, they are found in an extraordinarily wide range of designs.
The quintessential absinthe accoutrement - perforated spoons for holding the sugar cube over the glass. Usually made from
plated brass, tin or nickel, they are found in an extraordinarily wide range of designs.
Absinthe Glasses
Glasses with marked reservoirs at the base for holding the absinthe dose.
Glasses with marked reservoirs at the base for holding the absinthe dose.
Absinthe Fountains
Found in larger cafes or bistrots, these water dispensers allowed up to 6 absinthes to be prepared simultaneously.
Found in larger cafes or bistrots, these water dispensers allowed up to 6 absinthes to be prepared simultaneously.
Vintage Absinthe Bottles
Vintage absinthe bottles, some still sealed with their original contents.
Vintage absinthe bottles, some still sealed with their original contents.
Brouilleurs
Also known as mixers or individual fountains, these sat on top of the glass and held both sugar and iced water.
Also known as mixers or individual fountains, these sat on top of the glass and held both sugar and iced water.
Carafes & Topettes
Water carafes specifically made for the absinthe ritual, together with the distinctive measured topettes used for pouring the
correct absinthe dose.
Water carafes specifically made for the absinthe ritual, together with the distinctive measured topettes used for pouring the
correct absinthe dose.
Pichets
Earthenware or majolica water jugs for use with absinthe, often in the fanciful zoomorphic designs popular at the time.
Earthenware or majolica water jugs for use with absinthe, often in the fanciful zoomorphic designs popular at the time.
Pyrogenes
The ubiquitous matchstrikers found on every Belle Epoque cafe table, some with a bell in the base to summon the waiter.
The ubiquitous matchstrikers found on every Belle Epoque cafe table, some with a bell in the base to summon the waiter.
Other Absinthiana
Spoon-holders, advertising mats for card or dice games, an absinthe-prohibition bell in the shape of a devil, uranium glass,
and a remarkable brass absinthe glass and spoon that presages Picasso's famous Cubist sculpture.
Spoon-holders, advertising mats for card or dice games, an absinthe-prohibition bell in the shape of a devil, uranium glass,
and a remarkable brass absinthe glass and spoon that presages Picasso's famous Cubist sculpture.
Absinthe Posters & Advertising Cartons
Large lithographic advertising posters for the absinthe grand marques, together with the smaller cardboard-backed posters
designed for indoor use. Also a range of pro and anti-absinthe propaganda posters.
Large lithographic advertising posters for the absinthe grand marques, together with the smaller cardboard-backed posters
designed for indoor use. Also a range of pro and anti-absinthe propaganda posters.
Lithographic Tins
Lithographed tin signs advertising absinthe.
Lithographed tin signs advertising absinthe.
Books
Manufacturer's catalogues, pro and anti-absinthe tracts, scientific reports, distillation guides, French poetry, English fiction
and early printed works referring to absinthe.
Manufacturer's catalogues, pro and anti-absinthe tracts, scientific reports, distillation guides, French poetry, English fiction
and early printed works referring to absinthe.
Journals
Satirical journals of the Belle Epoque, café life reflected in the journals of the day, anti-absinthe propaganda in the popular
press.
Satirical journals of the Belle Epoque, café life reflected in the journals of the day, anti-absinthe propaganda in the popular
press.
Postcards
Advertising postcards, satirical photographic cards, propaganda postcards, chromolithographic cards.
Advertising postcards, satirical photographic cards, propaganda postcards, chromolithographic cards.
Absinthe Ephemera
Absinthe invoices and price-lists, publicity brochures, menus, manuscripts, early photographs and maps.
Absinthe invoices and price-lists, publicity brochures, menus, manuscripts, early photographs and maps.
Absinthe in America
Absinthe has a long history in both the USA and in South and Central America. Above all it's inextricably linked to New
Orleans and its French Quarter, where the Old Absinthe House has been a tourist attraction for more than a century
Absinthe has a long history in both the USA and in South and Central America. Above all it's inextricably linked to New
Orleans and its French Quarter, where the Old Absinthe House has been a tourist attraction for more than a century
The Prohibition of Absinthe
The final prohibition of absinthe, and its aftermath.
The final prohibition of absinthe, and its aftermath.
Absinthe Alambics
Alambics designed for absinthe distillation, and the trade catalogues of the leading manufacturers.
Alambics designed for absinthe distillation, and the trade catalogues of the leading manufacturers.
Absinthe Herbs
Grand wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, the distinctive ingredient that gives absinthe its unique character.
Grand wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, the distinctive ingredient that gives absinthe its unique character.
A Visit to Pontarlier
The town of Pontarlier, and the nearby Val de Travers in Switzerland, the ancestral birthplace of the Green Fairy.
The town of Pontarlier, and the nearby Val de Travers in Switzerland, the ancestral birthplace of the Green Fairy.
Recent updates to The Virtual Absinthe Museum:
Sections of special interest:
Aleister Crowley.
The Green Goddess, and
the Old Absinthe House.
The Green Goddess, and
the Old Absinthe House.
Pliny - 1481 Edition
The earliest printed
references to absinthe.
The earliest printed
references to absinthe.
Absinthe - The HELL DRINK!
An absinthe article in the 1960's
'sweat' magazine 'Battle Cry'.
An absinthe article in the 1960's
'sweat' magazine 'Battle Cry'.
Emile Zola and The Dreyfus Affair.
Anti-semitism and the anti-absinthe campaign.
Anti-semitism and the anti-absinthe campaign.
The De Absinthio Latin Translation Project
Join our Wiki, and help translate the most important early monograph on absinthe extant.
Join our Wiki, and help translate the most important early monograph on absinthe extant.
The following absinthe-related source documents are now available for download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format:
A complete English translation of the 1896 Maison Pernod Fils absinthe catalogue, in Books I
An important 1912 anti-absinthe paper "Alcoholism and Degeneracy" by Magnan and Fillassier in Books III
The 1882 4th and the 1899 7th edition of "Traité des Liqueurs et de la Distillation des Alcools" by Duplais in Books IV.
An English translation of J.Fritsch's authorative 1891 "Nouveau Traité de la Fabrication des Liqueurs", in Books IV
An English translation from the 1926 Fritsch dealing with Cusenier's absinthe oxygenation process, in Books IV
An English translation of Roret's 1888 "Nouveau Manuel Complet du Distillateur Liquoriste", in Books IV.
An English translation of the absinthe sections from J.de Brevans's 1908 "La Fabrication des Liqueurs", in Books IV
The absinthe sections from "A Practical Treatise on the Distillation and Rectification of Alcohol" by Brannt in Books IV
An English translation of Villon's 1894 La Nature article on the ageing of absinthe by oxygenation, in Books IV
An English translation of the absinthe still descriptions from the 1899 Maison Egrot Alambics catalogue in Alambics I.
The article "Characteristic Parisian Cafes" by Theodore Child from the 1889 issue of Harper's Magazine, in Journals I
Illustrated articles on absinthe and Belle Epoque café life from Je Sais Tout 1907, and Touche à Touche 1911 in Journals I.
An overview of the Dreyfus Affair, with the full text and an English translation of Zola's "J'Accuse" in Books IX.
An English translation of Alphonse Allais' pioneering stream of consciousness piece "Absinthes" in Books V.
Verlaine's article on Raoul Ponchon, and an English translation of Ponchon's poem "5 o'clock Absinthe", in Books V.
Extensive extracts and a plot summary of Marie Corelli's 1886 anti-absinthe novel "Wormwood", in Books VI.
The complete 1897 short story by M.E.M. Davis "At the Corner of Absinthe and Anisette", in Books VI.
Scans of "La Famille et l'Alcool" from the temperance tract "Histoire d'une Bouteille" in Books VIII.
An English translation of Pliny's "Natural History" dealing with absinthe and its therapeutic properties, in Books XII
Absinthe related extracts from the risqué 1951 novel "Touchable" by Les Scott, in Books XIII.
An article: "Absinthe - The HELL-DRINK" in the 1968 'sweat' magazine Battle Cry, in Books XIV.
Maurice Zolotow's influential 1971 article on absinthe published in Playboy magazine, in Books XV.
The complete text of Aleister Crowley's "Absinthe - The Green Goddess", in Books VII and in Absinthe FAQ III
A 1944 promotional booklet for Legendre Herbsaint with numerous cocktail recipes, in America I and Absinthe FAQ III
A collection of early absinthe-related papers from the Lancet, including one by Dr Valentin Magnan, in Absinthe FAQ V
An English translation of the comic monologue "Une Bonne Absinthe" in Ephemera II.
An English translation of Tisserand's 1922 "Eloge de la très précieuse liqueur d’Absinthe" in Prohibition II.
An English translation of a Schwyzerdütsch pro-absinthe poster for the July 1908 Swiss referendum in Posters II.
A complete English translation of the 1896 Maison Pernod Fils absinthe catalogue, in Books I
An important 1912 anti-absinthe paper "Alcoholism and Degeneracy" by Magnan and Fillassier in Books III
The 1882 4th and the 1899 7th edition of "Traité des Liqueurs et de la Distillation des Alcools" by Duplais in Books IV.
An English translation of J.Fritsch's authorative 1891 "Nouveau Traité de la Fabrication des Liqueurs", in Books IV
An English translation from the 1926 Fritsch dealing with Cusenier's absinthe oxygenation process, in Books IV
An English translation of Roret's 1888 "Nouveau Manuel Complet du Distillateur Liquoriste", in Books IV.
An English translation of the absinthe sections from J.de Brevans's 1908 "La Fabrication des Liqueurs", in Books IV
The absinthe sections from "A Practical Treatise on the Distillation and Rectification of Alcohol" by Brannt in Books IV
An English translation of Villon's 1894 La Nature article on the ageing of absinthe by oxygenation, in Books IV
An English translation of the absinthe still descriptions from the 1899 Maison Egrot Alambics catalogue in Alambics I.
The article "Characteristic Parisian Cafes" by Theodore Child from the 1889 issue of Harper's Magazine, in Journals I
Illustrated articles on absinthe and Belle Epoque café life from Je Sais Tout 1907, and Touche à Touche 1911 in Journals I.
An overview of the Dreyfus Affair, with the full text and an English translation of Zola's "J'Accuse" in Books IX.
An English translation of Alphonse Allais' pioneering stream of consciousness piece "Absinthes" in Books V.
Verlaine's article on Raoul Ponchon, and an English translation of Ponchon's poem "5 o'clock Absinthe", in Books V.
Extensive extracts and a plot summary of Marie Corelli's 1886 anti-absinthe novel "Wormwood", in Books VI.
The complete 1897 short story by M.E.M. Davis "At the Corner of Absinthe and Anisette", in Books VI.
Scans of "La Famille et l'Alcool" from the temperance tract "Histoire d'une Bouteille" in Books VIII.
An English translation of Pliny's "Natural History" dealing with absinthe and its therapeutic properties, in Books XII
Absinthe related extracts from the risqué 1951 novel "Touchable" by Les Scott, in Books XIII.
An article: "Absinthe - The HELL-DRINK" in the 1968 'sweat' magazine Battle Cry, in Books XIV.
Maurice Zolotow's influential 1971 article on absinthe published in Playboy magazine, in Books XV.
The complete text of Aleister Crowley's "Absinthe - The Green Goddess", in Books VII and in Absinthe FAQ III
A 1944 promotional booklet for Legendre Herbsaint with numerous cocktail recipes, in America I and Absinthe FAQ III
A collection of early absinthe-related papers from the Lancet, including one by Dr Valentin Magnan, in Absinthe FAQ V
An English translation of the comic monologue "Une Bonne Absinthe" in Ephemera II.
An English translation of Tisserand's 1922 "Eloge de la très précieuse liqueur d’Absinthe" in Prohibition II.
An English translation of a Schwyzerdütsch pro-absinthe poster for the July 1908 Swiss referendum in Posters II.
 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| This website and all its contents Copyright 2002- 2008 Oxygenee Ltd. No pictures or text may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission of the site owner. |
The Story of Herbsaint
New Orleans famed absinthe substitute.
New Orleans famed absinthe substitute.
Art and Artists
Absinthe-inspired artworks, from Picasso to Felicien Rops.
Absinthe-inspired artworks, from Picasso to Felicien Rops.
| Uranium and Opaline Glass Absinthe glassware dosed with uranium dioxide. |
Last update: Thursday, 5th June 2008
A fine new zoomorphic absinthe pitcher in Pichets II.
A rare late eighteenth century pharmacy pot added in Herbs I.
Many new spoons added to Spoons I, II, III and IV, particularly important is a
fine Tour Eiffel #8 "Grande Roue".
"Plan de Pontarlier Monumental" now fully restored in Ephemera VIII.
A remarkable publicity photo for Absinthe Duval in Ephemera VI.
A superb fountain with Japonsime influenced etching on the glass in Fountains I.
An insider account of the process leading to relegalization of absinthe in the US in
Absinthe in America V.
A large double sided prohibitionist poster "L'Alcool Voila L'Ennemi" in Posters XI.
A rare unrecorded grille in Spoons II.
A Baccarat opaline uranium glass liqueur set in Absinthiana III.
A fine new zoomorphic absinthe pitcher in Pichets II.
A rare late eighteenth century pharmacy pot added in Herbs I.
Many new spoons added to Spoons I, II, III and IV, particularly important is a
fine Tour Eiffel #8 "Grande Roue".
"Plan de Pontarlier Monumental" now fully restored in Ephemera VIII.
A remarkable publicity photo for Absinthe Duval in Ephemera VI.
A superb fountain with Japonsime influenced etching on the glass in Fountains I.
An insider account of the process leading to relegalization of absinthe in the US in
Absinthe in America V.
A large double sided prohibitionist poster "L'Alcool Voila L'Ennemi" in Posters XI.
A rare unrecorded grille in Spoons II.
A Baccarat opaline uranium glass liqueur set in Absinthiana III.
| An Absinthe Zanzibar A bar-top dice game for Absinthe Blanqui. |