French Benedictine Liqueur Bottle

A French Benedictine bottle novelty travelling inkwell
early 20th century, with push button cap release and original paper labels, original glass inkwell, 2 7/8in. (7.25cm.) high.

This is a traveling or novelty inkwell crafted in the form of a French Bénédictine liqueur bottle with original wax seal. The brown-toned metal has the finish, shape, curves, and neck of the iconic bottle.

A key feature is the push-button release mechanism located on the bottle’s label. Pressing this button allows the top section to open revealing the inkwell within.

her some of the words visible on the labels:

• The label around the neck reads: “LIQUOR / Monachorum Benedictinorum / ABBATIA FISCANI“. This translates from Latin to “Liqueur of the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Fécamp,” highlighting its monastic origins.

• The larger rectangular label at the bottom reads “VERITABLE LIQUEUR BENEDICTINE“. Below this, “Marque déposées” (French for “Registered Trademark”) en France et à l’Étranger…

Here’s a brief history of Liqueur Bénédictine:

• The Legend: The liqueur’s origins are famously traced back to the Benedictine Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy, France. According to the legend, in 1510, a Venetian monk named Dom Bernardo Vincelli created a secret elixir there.
• Rediscovery: The recipe was said to have been lost until 1863 when Alexandre Le Grand, a wine merchant from Fécamp, purportedly rediscovered it in the abbey’s ancient library.
• The Brand: Alexandre Le Grand began producing and marketing the liqueur under the “Bénédictine” name, emphasizing its monastic heritage with the Latin inscription “Deo Optimo Maximo” (To God, the Best and Greatest) and the initials “D.O.M.” which are still prominent on the bottle today.
• Success and Mystery: Bénédictine quickly gained popularity and became an iconic French liqueur. The exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, though it is known to involve a complex blend of 27 different herbs and spices.
• The Palais Bénédictine: Alexandre Le Grand built an elaborate and ornate palace in Fécamp, the Palais Bénédictine, which serves as both a distillery and a museum dedicated to the liqueur’s history and production.

Given its long history and iconic status, the shape of the Bénédictine bottle would have been easily recognizable, making it a suitable form for a novelty item like this traveling inkwell.