The pounce pot or desk sander was the forerunner to blotting paper, it functions in a similar way to a salt shaker and would be filled with very fine pumice of ground cuttlefish bones. When one had finished your correspondence, they would shake a little of the powder over the writing, thus absorbing the ink, the powder would then be tipped back into the pounce pot.
 
This is a nice walnut example, from the begging of the 19th century. It would have been used in a wealthy country or town house for personel use, or also be used in a proffesional person's office, such as that of a town clerk.
 
In good condition. 
 
Dimesions:5cm x 4cm