A Georgian treen searce used for sifting powder.  This example has a lovely ripple moulded  rim with ring turning and chip carved decoration.edge. The searce  unscrews in the middle and still retains its metal wire mesh. 
 Antique treen searces were used for sifting powders mainly for apothecaries, the sieved powder would then be made into a paste for pills. Antique searces consists of a semi circular bowl to the top this should have a metal perforated mesh in its central lower section which will let the sieved powder to pass through to the base. The base is hollow it unscrews and the powder can be retrieved. These antique treen searces are particularly rare to find.
c1760/80
It measures 12cm w x 7cm h.