18th to early 19th century pounce pot, or sander, in ebony and bone, excellent original condition. No cracks or repairs. Measures 3 inches high by 2.75 inches wide. Pounce pots are small containers with perforations at the top that were used to store pounce, a fine powder made from crushed bones, pumice, gum sandarac resin, sandstone, or talc. Pounce was sprinkled on parchment or ink to help it dry and to prepare paper for writing. Pounce pots are also known as sanders. The pounce was gently sprinkled all over the writing on the paper. When using a quill or a steel nib, and with inks that are made up to match those typically in use during the 18th and 19th centuries, and provided the pen has been used with the fine strokes typical of handwriting of that period, the handwriting will be sufficiently dry within 10 seconds to allow the paper to be folded without blotting. Gently vibrating the paper while the pounce or sand is on it ensures that little or no pounce or sand sticks to the handwriting and excess sand or pounce is shaken off before folding the paper.
English sterling patch or snuff box with engraved exterior and gold vermeil interior. Never monogrammed. Birmingham 1880-1901. Measures 2 and one eighth inches long by 1.5 inches wide.
Two hand wrought steel pot holder brackets circa 1900 blacksmith made from heavy thick steel with hand forged iron hooks. These brackets can hold any amount of weight. Perfect for a country kitchen copper pan collection. One rack measures 37 in long by 2 inches wide by 5/16ths of an inch thick, and the other measures 31 inches long by 2 inches wide by 5/16ths of an inch thick. Found 20 years ago in Newport, RI. Probably from a kitchen in one of the large mansions.
African tribal Fang carved wood fertility figure, early 20th century. The Fang people, also known as Fang or Pahouin, are a Bantu ethnic group found in equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, and southern Cameroon. The figure is 22.5" high and the wood platform is half an inch high.
Chinese Yixing teapot in Winter Blossom pattern. Handmade circa 1980. Measures 7 inches long by 5 inches high by 3.5 inches deep. 24 oz. Perfect condition.