{"product_id":"late-18th-early-19th-century-tin-pounce-pot-with-star-shaped-holes-and-traces-of-red-paint-1","title":"Late 18th\/Early 19th Century Tin Pounce Pot with Star Shaped Holes and Traces of Red Paint","description":"\u003cp\u003eI come across an old pounce pot, or \"sander\" now and then, more often treen than tin, and while I've often found them beautiful, this is the first I felt compelled to purchase, and also provided occasion for me to fully understand its use.  A pounce pot like this would have been filled with a fine powder (gum-sandarac, pumice, fine sand, or crushed cuttlefish bone) which would be shaken over rough paper, smoothing the surface so quill nibs would not catch, and then shaken over wet ink, with the absorbent dust drying the writing quickly to prevent smudging. (This all before blotting paper became common.) I like the idea of writing as such an involved, material process, and love this particular one as a very satisfying physical object, with hand-punched holes forming a star, and original red paint still holding on around the bottom rim especially. And this American example has lived about as long as the United States itself--c. late 1700s or so I believe. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2 5\/8\" t x 2 7\/8\" d. Good condition, sound and sturdy, perfect patina I'd say. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"critical EYE Finds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48764368584958,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0015\/5022\/1382\/files\/IMG_3266_b4907551-2add-40ca-a023-8657a517bd6f.png?v=1786724441","url":"https:\/\/www.criticaleyefinds.com\/products\/late-18th-early-19th-century-tin-pounce-pot-with-star-shaped-holes-and-traces-of-red-paint-1","provider":"critical EYE Finds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}