What Is That Salt Shaker For?

[lectraplayer]

In photos of old manuscripts, such as the US Declararion of Independence, I often see what appears to be a salt shaker along with the bottle of ink and writing instrument (often a turkey feather or similar). What is that salt shaker for?

[Nero]

I thin you mean sand: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/156685-sand-used-instead-of-blotting-paper/

[lectraplayer]

Ok I figured it was not sodium chloride but didn't know what it was for. I guess it shows you how green I am to some of this stuff

[smwknits]

I seem to remember knowing that sand was used on documents, though thought it was just sort of thrown on. It makes sense that they used sand as I imagine blotting paper would have been a luxury commodity back then.

 

I haven't posted on this forum in about three years, but remember being afraid of asking stupid questions. Welcome to FPN lectraplayer!

[Shangas]

It gives the ink extra flavour.

[nigelg]

Usually called "Pounce".

 

From Wikipedia:

 

Pounce is a fine powder that was sprinkled over wet ink to hasten drying prior to the invention of blotting paper. The powder was prepared from substances such as finely ground salt, sand, or powdered soft minerals such as talc or soapstone. A mixture of sandarac gum, and pumice or cuttlebone serves as pounce and can also be used for sizing paper and vellum.

Pounce was commonly kept in a pounce pot, a small container resembling a salt shaker. Many pounce pots have concave lids to make it easier to return spare pounce to the pot.

 

HTH

 

Nigel

[RMN]

I seem to remember knowing that sand was used on documents, though thought it was just sort of thrown on. It makes sense that they used sand as I imagine blotting paper would have been a luxury commodity back then.

 

I haven't posted on this forum in about three years, but remember being afraid of asking stupid questions. Welcome to FPN lectraplayer!

In my opinion the only stupid question is the one not being voiced. If you don't know it there are probably hundreds who don't know either.

 

Besides, it gives the pros a chance to show off.....

 

 

D.ick

[Daisy25]

I always wondered about this: wouldn't the pounce or blotting paper smear the wet ink?

[lectraplayer]

Not necessarily since sand is granular (if it hits straight and is allowed to rest). Isn't notebook paper a blotting paperf nowsays? I think the blotting paper pulls the ink down and not so much over.

[Hennypenny]

When you use blotting paper, you put it straight down on top of the writing, press so that the blotting paper absorbs the excess ink, and then lift the blotting paper up, being careful not to pull it sideways and smear the writing (rolling blotters - like the one in my avatar - achieve this same action quite nicely). I imagine with pounce, you'd let it absorb the excess ink, and then shake it off once the ink in the pounce dried.

Edited June 20, 2013 by Hennypenny

[bizhe]

Awesome topic! The pounce pot.

[ajzeller]

Blotting paper replaced pounce for the ease of use (especially when it came to having rocker blotters compared to shakers.)

 

The way that pounce works is that the powder isn't really a powder so much as a fine sand. With the cuttlefish bone and pumice powder, there are naturally tiny holes in each granule while will draw the excess ink in where it will later dry. Sandarc is basically a resin or dried sap and actually repels water/ink. It'll hinder the absorption of ink into the paper and make it easier to get into the pumice/cuttlefish bone. Sandarac was/is also used to prep paper as it'll help make finer lines (since the ink will be repelled from spreading out.)

 

Once the ink is absorbed, it can be recollected for later use (the shakers typically had a concave top to help make recollection easier.) Once it starts staying clumped and doesn't shake out very well, it's time to get rid of it. The large feather quills had the little tuft on the top to help brush away the excess sand (the full feather quills weren't really used because the wind resistance from having the full feather on there affected writing.)

[Penne Stilografiche]

Couldn't the "salt shaker" also be a quill holder? I've seen some that can hold 15 quills and they look like a salt shaker.

[Runnin_Ute]

In my opinion the only stupid question is the one not being voiced. If you don't know it there are probably hundreds who don't know either.

 

Besides, it gives the pros a chance to show off.....

 

 

D.ick

I tell people this all the time. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. When I taught I emphasized this with my students.

[Daisy25]

This has been fascinating. Thanks for all the great information.