Antique Early Treen 18thc Turned Lignum Pounce Pot. English C1780-90.

A fine example of a late 18thc turned lignum vitae pounce pot, which would have sat on a gentleman's desk and after he had finished writing, he would have used it to "blot" the letter, to dry the ink....the pounce pot would have contained fine sand or alum and then he would have tipped the sand /alum back into the pounce pot, (hence the dished shape).... ready for the next letter.... blotting paper had yet to be invented.....it is in very good condition, with a few little nicks to the inside of the threads, out of sight and the pounce pot still closes tightly.....and a small shrinkage crack under the base, which goes nowhere and is just on the surface....(see pictures).....altogether a very nice complete example of these collectable pieces of treen.

English. C1780-90.