A rare pair of George III turned boxwood apothecary searces, circa 1760
REF: 2955
Each in two parts, the dished top with serrated (pie-crust) edge and fine wire sieve mesh.
See E. H. Pinto, Treen and Other Wooden Bygones (1969), where apothecaries' searces are described as 'shallow bowls which screw on to a hollow stem and foot and together form a sieve and receptacle. In the base of the bowl is inserted a fine brass wire mesh...They were used for sieving powders, the fine powder passing into the receptacle leaving lumps or impurities in the bowl. They are now considerable rarities.' Several are illustrated pl.6, and described on p.18.
- Height 6.5 cm / 2 3⁄4"
- Diameter 10.5 cm / 4 "
Category
 edge and fine wire sieve mesh.See E. H. Pinto, Treen and Other Wooden Bygones (1969), where apothecaries' searces are described as 'shallow bowls which screw on to a hollow stem and foot and together form a sieve and receptacle. In the base of the bowl is inserted a fine brass wire mesh...They were used for sieving powders, the fine powder passing into the receptacle leaving lumps or impurities in the bowl. They are now considerable rarities.' Several are illustrated pl.6, and described on p.18.){kind=link}