Chinese Silver Snuff Box
Vintage 1910s Chinese Qing Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique 1890s Chinese Chinese Export Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century European Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold
Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique Early 1900s Chinese Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique 19th Century Asian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique Early 1800s English George III Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Metalwork
Gold, Silver, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XIV Ashtrays
Gold Plate, Brass
People Also Browsed
20th Century Danish Serving Pieces
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Figurative Sculptures
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage 1970s French Space Age Architectural Elements
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Boxes
Enamel, Copper, Metal
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Ceramic
Antique Early 1900s Italian Beaux Arts Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century French Classical Greek Centerpieces
Bronze
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Bronze
Vintage 1960s Italian Empire Decorative Boxes
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Russian Baroque Collectible Jewelry
Silver, Enamel
Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Metalwork
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Jewelry Boxes
Silver Plate, Bronze
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Cabinets
Marble, Ormolu
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Silver
Antique Mid-18th Century French Rococo Animal Sculptures
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tibetan Archaistic Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Pewter
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tibetan Chinese Export Snuff Boxes and Tobacco...
Jade, Silver
Antique 19th Century British Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Decorative Boxes
Metal
Chinese Silver Snuff Box For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Chinese Silver Snuff Box?
Finding the Right snuff-boxes for You
Snuff, made of ground tobacco, was especially popular with Europeans in the 1600s. The ornate boxes to keep the powder dry became highly decorative by the 18th century. It was considered a must-have item, particularly for nobility. Today antique snuffboxes and tobacco boxes — as well as other vintage tobacco accessories — are collectibles and charming pieces of decor for any display case or to elevate your bookshelves.
The most important feature of a snuffbox was that it was airtight. The box protected the snuff from oxygen. Another crucial component was the flat lid.
Snuffboxes could be small enough to fit into a pocket or a larger container for communal use at the table. They also came in different shapes. Porcelain containers were prevalent and often designed to look like trunks. Others were oval or square. Boxes made with cowrie shells were rare and more expensive.
Snuffboxes were usually crafted from silver, gold, horn or tortoiseshell. Some of the most prestigious snuffboxes were French tabatières made of gold and sometimes glass. They could be adorned with amethysts, sapphires and diamonds and enameled, engraved or chased.
Sheffield, England, was known for its silver snuffboxes in the late 18th century as its silver-plating technologies perfected these containers. By the early 19th century, the silver industry in Birmingham, England, was producing elegant snuffboxes with images of abbeys and castles on the sides and top.
Another type of tobacco box was the snuff mull or mill. It was made out of horn or an entire ram’s head and topped with a metal lid, frequently featuring engravings and decorative hinges. These were fashionable in Scotland during the 19th century. The origin of its name is unclear.
On 1stDibs, find a plentiful range of antique snuffboxes and tobacco boxes to complement any home decor or furniture style. You can browse the collection by style, which includes Victorian, Georgian and Art Deco, or by material to find pieces in silver and gold.
Read More
African Travel Plans on Hold? This Ardmore Leopard Vase Brings the Beauty of the Savanna to You
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Zoë Powell’s Magnolia 05 Vessel Is Handmade from Clay She Unearthed Herself
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.
8 Ways to Breathe New Life into a Space with Plants
The pair behind the Instagram account @houseplantclub share their tips for making any room of the house gloriously green.
Paris Gallerist Sandy Toupenet Gets Fired Up over 20th-Century Ceramics and Inventive New Makers
Her space on the city’s Left Bank mixes mid-century pieces by the likes of Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso with whimsical contemporary creations.
These Soft Sculptures Are Childhood Imaginary Friends Come to Life
Miami artist and designer Gabriela Noelle’s fantastical creations appeal to the Peter Pan in all of us.
This Vivacious Teapot Has Agnes Martin on One Side and Jean-Michel Basquiat on the Other
Ceramist Roberto Lugo brings a street-art sensibility to a dainty serving vessel while paying homage to his artistic heroes.
This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.