A very rare apothecary “Searce” intended to function as a sieve through which powder could be sifted in preparation for making a tablet paste or for other similar purpose.  Its bowl of finely turned boxwood with its decoratively scalloped edge drops to a screen at the center of the bottom which allows for the freshly strained powder to pass through and collect in the base which is hollow and can be readily accessed by unscrewing the base from the bowl.