Lot of 2 Russian Owl Formed Porcelain Casters

A Lot of 2 19th-century porcelain casters (shaker) for sand, probably Russian, apparently unmarked. The naturalistically formed and painted owl on a domed base. Height: 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm). The other porcelain sand caster (shaker) made by Kuznetsov Porcelain Factory, Tver, mid-19th century. The stylized owl on brightly-colored base, the underside complete with cork stopper, stamped with blue factory mark. Height: 5 1/8 in. (13 cm). In the 19th century, pounce or sand were sprinkled on documents to speed the drying of ink and preventing smearing. Sand casters usually held powdered gum sandarac, a fine sand, although more coarse sand could also be used. On sand casters, see Joe Nickell, Pen, Ink and Evidence (New Castle, 2003), pp. 58-64.