Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
17th Century Dutch Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
1750s English George II Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Agate, Gold
18th Century English Other Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Agate, Gold
Mid-18th Century Austrian Neoclassical Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Lacquer, Wood, Fabric
18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Enamel
1740s Scottish George II Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Other
18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Enamel
Late 18th Century French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Walnut
1790s English Georgian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Enamel
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold
18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Enamel
18th Century German George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Porcelain
18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Copper, Enamel
1750s French Louis XV Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold
18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Copper, Enamel
Late 18th Century French Empire Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Wood, Paper
Late 18th Century European Rococo Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Tortoise Shell
Late 18th Century French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Walnut
18th Century French Rococo Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Pewter
Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Sterling Silver
1780s French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold
Antique Snuffboxes and Tobacco Boxes
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.