Bronze Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Circa 1910 From our Chinese collection, we are pleased to offer this Chinese Silver Dragon Snuff Box. The snuff box of oval form having a hammered decoration to the exterior with a ...

Trimmed in elegant yellow gold is this polished English agate snuff box. Distinguished by the dynamic patterning of the agate, the exquisite vessel i...

19th Century Chinese Document Box. Elm wood in Black lacquer with bronze hardware having a pine wood top shelf compartment in red lacquer. Nicely mad...

Metal school supply box sent by the South Africa Jewish Wars Appeal to the Wels displaced persons (DP) camp in Austria, 1947. Painted blue and white with the map of South Africa, and...

An exceptional and rare Chinese mother of pearl mounted games box with four matching interior boxes containing gaming counters and dating from the 18th century. The rectangular shape...

This is a good and complete English handmade wood "weighted" chess set game of 32 pieces, in its original box with a sliding lid, made by John Jaques of London and dating to the mid 20th century period. The chess pieces are made of turned and carved varnished wood. The bases of ALL pieces are weighted with metal pieces and the bases have a green felt/paper cover. Weighted sets like this one have a much nicer "feel" when playing. The pieces in the set are in the Staunton style. Sizes: Kings: 70mm ( ~ 2.75 inches); Pawns: ~45mm (~1.7 inches) The set comes complete with its original wood storage box, having a sliding lid and complete with a paper makers sticker to the lid. Overall a good "weighted" John Jaques chess...

A scarce fine quality antique silver-inlaid solid brass betel nut box (Lutuan), dating to the second half of the 19th / early 20th century, hand-crafted in Mindanao, Philippines. Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this example. Such boxes were used to show off to guests and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid. Rare large size, most extant examples of such boxes tend to measure around 5 inches in length. At slightly more than 7.75 inches the example here is larger than most. The distinctive decorative box features a very heavy strong-box like rectangular shaped chest form with canted corners, copper handles, and a conforming hinged lid, lifting open to reveal an interior divided into three compartments covered by four hinged lids. Each of these doors is inlaid with silver in stylized orchid flower patterns. Exceptionally executed throughout, the arabesque silver inlaid exterior is decorated to the top with a large orchid motif within scrolling obid-obid (stylized rope) borders. The front, back and sides are inlaid with sets of stylized tail feathers of the sari-manok bird beneath which are unusual, highly stylized whimsical zoomorphic faces that appear like cat or tiger faces. (Such stylisation is accounted for by Southeast Asian Islamic preferences to avoid the overt and this potentially idolatrous representation of animal and human forms. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving. Although the spread of Islam in the Philippines began in the 14th century, mostly through the influence of Muslim merchants from the western Malay Archipelago, decorative arts in this design remain exceptionally rare. This lutuan represents a fine example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, established 1983, Austin, Texas. References Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters...

Lovely Art Deco model car fully made in brass. This charming model car box with many purposes was made in the US during the 1930s. Patent 75086 - This elegant and rare brass model c...

Wonderfully decorative, intricate and good condition, 19th century box. Over the years we have sold a number of rare and unique boxes, but never a Gothic Revival one with as many ...

A complete handmade copper and bronze antique Betel Nut Paan-daan box with beautiful patina. A quick way to add texture, character, color and rustic elements. Born in India during the mid 19th century, in circular form featuring hand hammered and engraved floral and foliate relief decoration, top lid with handle, can be locked with a padlock, the top opening to incised circular lift tray, revealing six hammered storage jars of varied sizes, all with corresponding tops. Betel leaf, and various herbs/spices remnants present, each incised on the tops and sides. Can be used as a portable spice/herb rack, ingredient storage, tobacco, incense, carry and organize arts and crafts, table/desk...

Burmese antique lacquerware betel box. Individual Betel Box authentic Burmese Folk Art know as Kun- It, Mandalay Period. A lacquered cylindrical body of woven turned Bamboo decorated by incised lacquer overall with Chu-pan variant motif and traditional Folk Art characters. This Betel Box has four bowls that make up the entire box. This is a complete Burmese Lacquerware Betel Box. Each bowl has a purpose. The top and base work as large containers and two shallow dishes work as small bowls. The workmanship is very unique having exquisite height details to the bottom of the base container and the two shallow bowls showcasing a complex design to the weaving. Antique Burmese Lacquerware is highly collectible, having books written on this Folk Art with museums having collections and exhibits of same. A very nice antique Burmese Betel Box...

Antique late 18th century oval brass Dutch tinder / snuff / pill box, etched with phrases and a landscape of two figures plowing a field. Voor ene goede vrind / for a good friend ...