Anthony House Antiques

Description

Probably not unique but I've never seen a lidded one before. Years ago when I bought it, it still contained its original pumice powder and stone. Behind the lid is a thin gap so that holding the lid shut the user could tip enough powder down the board to use for cleaning the knives. It's a bit of a misnomer to say clean, the old carbon steel knives would still have to have been washed up beforehand. The purpose of abraiding the knife blade was to remove the dark stains caused by different foodstuffs, particularly meats through chemical reaction. A problem we still have every day, our knives are Georgian!