A Rare 18th-Century English Antique Treen Apothecary's /Chemist's "Searce"

An apothecary *searce," or sieve, was a tool used by apothecaries, particularly from the 18th century onwards, to sift powders and herbs to remove lumps and impurities before they were made into pastes for pills or other medicinal preparations. These antique tools, often made of "treen" (turned wood) or other materials, typically feature a semi-circular bowl with a perforated metal mesh in the centre and a hollow base that unscrews to retrieve the sieved powder. 

The main uses of apothecary searces were:

Sifting Powders: Their primary function was to achieve a fine, uniform powder from ingredients like herbs, roots, and minerals used in medicinal compounds.

Pill Making: The sieved powder was then used to create pastes for pills, a common form of medication in that era.

Many antique apothecary searces were crafted from "treen," which refers to items made from wood. They often have a distinctive design with a central mesh and a base that separates to collect the sieved material.

Historical Significance: These tools provide insight into the practices and craftsmanship of apothecaries in the past, reflecting the meticulous nature of preparing medicines.

Rarity: Antique apothecary searces, especially those with intact sieves, are considered rare and are highly collectible today.

This 18th century apothecary's treen searce is rare in it's diminutive size and where the seive remains intact.

Provenance - Found in East Anglia, England.

Condition - As clearly shown in the photos there is a shrinkage crack to the bowl with a historic, naive, wood and plaster infil repair. Nevertheless it is rare in size, retaining its original, undamaged metal sifting gauze, as mentioned previously. The surface of the piece does have a lovely patina.

Size -  8.5 cm upper rim diameter x 5 cms high (3 1/3" x 2")