4 spigot antique Absinthe fountain

This early-twentieth century absinthe fountain has a pretty cu- glass top and four little taps and sits on around metal column pedestal.

There would have originally been a little decorative finial on the very top.

Absinthe fountains were used to serve absinthe in a visually dramatic and ritualistic way. The fountain, with its reservoir and spigots, dispensed water slowly over a sugar cube placed on a perforated absinthe spoon. This gradual dilution, known as "louching," caused the absinthe to turn a milky white as the essential oils emulsified. This process added sweetness and complexity to the absinthe.

Absinthe, known as "la fee verte" or the green fairy, experienced popularity during France's Belle Époque but was banned in 1915 due to fears over its psychoactive effects and associations with social disorder. While never officially prohibited from production in France, it was effectively sidelined until the 1990s when historical distillation techniques were revived, leading to its relegalization. Changes in EU regulations facilitated its resurgence across Europe, allowing it to be sold under various guises and marking its return to cultural significance.