Sander or pounce pot

1825-1860

Measurements

3-3/4 in x 3-7/8 in (dia)

Materials

Boxwood

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3553

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This elegantly turned pounce pot, also called sanders, sand casters, and other terms, is of a tapered cylindrical form.  A single piece of wood, the lower portion supports a large and deep bowl with holes pierced in a six-pointed star pattern.  The container was made to sprinkle pounce--a fine mixture of sand and/or other powders--that, when sprinkled on a writing surface still wet with ink, prevented the ink from spreading.  Pounce also absorbed moisture, thus accelerated drying.

This caster is turned from boxwood, a lightweight and durable wood that, when lathe-turned, yielded precise forms, as visible on this example.  It has a clear finish that allows the wood grain and color to show.  

Cloth now covers the bottom—and likely the access to the inside, allowing the user to refill the sander with pounce.

Other boxwood examples in the collection include accession nos. 1971.843 and 1959.3801.