Jan & John Maggs

Antiques and Art

A small bone traveling pounce

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Pounce pots, usually called sanders in the colonies, were designed to sprinkle a fine powder on correspondence, with the aim of drying the ink. We’ve sold several turned, wooden pounces, which usually have flamboyant profiles. This example, in contrast, is exceedingly plain, its only decoration being the scroll lines around the cylinders and the base and the button-like finial on it top. The upper surface of the middle section (the actual pounce) has a dozen small holes through which the fine powder is dispensed. The holes are arranged in an interesting pattern, which is hardly ever visible. A singular, portable example of this essential writing accessory.

English, ca. 1860

Height: 3 ½”; Diameter: ⅞”

Price: $145

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