Absinthe bistro saucers had a double purpose in the days before the ban on absinthe. Apart from their function as coasters, they were also used to indicate the price of the absinthe served. The price printed on the bottom or the side of the saucer corresponded to a colour painted on the outer rim. This coloured rim was used to indicate to the waiter the amount to be charged to the customer by reading the different colours of the saucers when stacked. For example, if three blue-rimmed saucers (as shown above) were stacked, the waiter knew that the customer would be charged 1.95 French francs. When the bill was paid, the money was usually left inside the coaster.

This saucer has a hand-painted blue rim with a gold accent line and green and gold pinwheel lines. The mark of the franc is printed in the porcelain before the saucer is glazed and fired, which guarantees that the mark will not fade.

• hand-painted rim
• made of porcelain
• non-fade colours

Details

Product dimensions in cm Diameter 11.7 X H 2.1
Material porcelain