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Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes For Sale
George III Concentric Snuff Box Made in London in London by Joseph Ash I, 1807
Located in London, GB
An Extremely Rare George III Concentric Snuff Box Made in London in London in 1807 by Joseph Ash I. As with vinaigrettes, concentric Snuff Boxes are rare. This example is circular i...
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19th Century English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Luscious Leather Embossed Hand-Painted Chinoiserie Box
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Wonderful Chinese box in red, gold and black having a Chinoiserie painted design on embossed leather with original brass hardware. There's a removable metal liner and the interior is...
Category

1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Leather

Old African Hand Carved Wooden Box 19th Century Brown Color Powder Box
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Superb old African box with hand-carving & carrying chain on the top. Carved on all sides. Authentic ceremonial divided box with hand wrought iron hinges l...
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19th Century African Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Metal

Antique Meriden Victorian Silverplate Divided Humidor Box Figural Candlestick
Located in Dayton, OH
A divided Humidor by Meriden B. Company, Circa 1898. Made from silverplate with chased baroque pattern. The footed box has two large compartments and two small opening that allow acc...
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1890s Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Metal

Basket Weave Snuff Box, Joseph Willmore, Birmingham, 1837
Located in London, GB
A Basket Weave Snuff Box, Joseph Willmore, Birmingham, 1837. An unusual basket weave Snuff Box made in Birmingham Additional information: Height: 2 cm / 1" Width: 1 cm / "
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19th Century English Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Cigar Box with Hound Dog Finial
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver cigar box. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton, Massachusetts, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with molded rim; on top, cast figural finial...
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Early 20th Century American Modern Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

19th Century English Tortoiseshell Hinged Box with Silver Decorations
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century English tortoiseshell hinged box with silver decorations.
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19th Century English Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Dutch silver pill box, 1852
Located in Delft, NL
Dutch silver pill box, 1852 A Dutch silver small cartouche-shaped pill box with engraved symbol decor on the lid. The silver box has a hinged lid. The box is Dutch silver hallmarked...
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19th Century Dutch Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Silver

Vintage Steamer Trunk Luggage Cast Box Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Classic steamer trunk luggage case in copper Great look to this piece, can double up as a coffee table Opens out to reveal ample storage Some ...
Category

1980s Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Lead

CARVED BLACK FOREST WOOD SMOKiNG PIPE CABINET BOX LATIN INSCRIBED NIL NISI CRUCE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, hand carved Black Forest wood, smoking pipe cabinet or rack with inscribed top reading "Nil N...
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1870s German Black Forest Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

1960s Geometric Jewelry Trinket Geometric Box Mexican Craft Eclectic Woodworker
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage hinged lidded hexagonal box by Don Shoemaker, Senal.
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1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Cocobolo

German Porcelain Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This important German porcelain snuff box exhibits delightful artistry and craftsmanship. Hand painted classical tableau celebrating the e...
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18th Century German Neoclassical Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

French early 19th Century lacquered papier mâché snuff box
By Stobwasser
Located in Delft, NL
French early 19th Century lacquered papier mâché snuff box Lacquered Papier Mâché Snuff Box, Calendar 1811, Names of All Saints Per Day. Frenc...
Category

19th Century French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Paper

Rare Austrian Silver and Enamel Stamp Box with Mouse and Seed Pearls
Located in Long Island City, NY
Rare Austrian Silver and Enamel Stamp Box with Mouse and Seed Pearls The Quality is Fantastic, so well executed, in great condition this item is ready to use. Marked 84 and then ov...
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19th Century Austrian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Snuff Box Venetian landscape miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape is in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24 carats.. Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape has translucent fired enamel on guilloche and min...
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1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Turned Lignum Vitae Tobacco Jar
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good early 19th Century turned Lignum Vitae tobacco jar, the stepped lid with acorn finial, over cylindrical ring turned body, the whole with good rich color and striking contrast wi...
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Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

French Art Nouveau Period Sterling Silver Pill Box
Located in New York, NY
A small French sterling silver pill box, Art Nouveau period, decorated with flowers and a gold gilt interior, circa late-19th century, France. Piece ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Art Deco porcelain monkey tabacco box
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art Deco porcelain monkey tabacco box Hand-glazed and hand-painted, created by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz and manufactured by Theodore Haviland By: Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, Theodore Havila...
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1920s French Art Deco Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Enamel

Small Antique Tobacco Tin, English, Copper, Silver Plate, Lidded Box, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small antique tobacco tin. An English, copper and silver plate lidded box, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Pleasingly time ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate, Copper

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Trinket/Table Snuff Banana Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian English sterling silver trinket/table snuff box modelled in the form of a banana; an addition to our diverse silverware collection This exceptional and rare antique sterling silver box has been realistically modelled in the form of a banana. The surface of this silver snuff/trinket box has a satin finish and bears features reflecting the curvilinear nature of the banana's peel. This antique sterling silver banana...
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1860s British Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

18ct Gold Antique English Snuff Box - Hallmarked in London in 1803 - 54.9g
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1803 by George Longstaff, this very handsome, George III period, Antique 18ct Gold Snuff Box, features engine turned decor...
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Early 1800s English George III Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold

Snuff Box Round Guilloche Enamel Box Gold Paillons Stars of Sky Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round table snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent blue fired enamel on guillochè and with the insertion of pure gold “paillons” in the shape of stars to create a starry sky effect. With turquoise enamel circle with hand-engraved motif. Late 1600s Baroque style. Diameter cm. 7.7 cm high. 2.3. Weight gr. 226. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1967 and produced in Florence in several specimens in the Salimbeni company headquarters with manual workmanship by skilled artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous enamelled firings at high heat at about 800° C - The Paillons processing, now almost disappeared, and a rare technique recognized as a craft. Several layers of enamel are applied to the object, baked one by one in the oven. Afterwards, the designs cut out of thin gold leaves, the paillons foils, are applied one by one by hand to form the desired figure. These sheets are then in turn coated...
Category

1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel

St. Cloud Style Hen and Chicken Snuff Box by Samson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
St. Cloud style hen and chicken snuff box, by Samson. Large size, beautifully decorated.
Category

Early 20th Century French Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Sterling Silver Victor Emanuel Pill Box
Located in New York, NY
Sterling silver Victor Emanuel pill box. Antique blue enameled silver pill box with the crowned initials of King Victor Emanuel and House of Savoy rope emblem, stamped Masenza Rome. ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

19th Century French Pottery Tobacco Jar Humidor Renaissance Style
Located in Austin, TX
Rare complete 19th French pottery tobacco jar inspired by the Renaissance with medallions with his two pewter lids. Pottery from North of France No...
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1880s French Renaissance Revival Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Pewter

Silver Cased Military Interest Presentation Snuff Box 1847
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional and rare antique silver snuffbox reading 'PRESENTED TO St. Mr. P CAMPION, 1st Bn 19th Foot, by His, BROTHER SERJEANTS, As A Mark of Their, Sincere Regard.' in its original shaped fitted case and made by Cronin & Wheeler, Birmingham in 1847. The snuff box, probably unused, is simply stunning the cartouche shaped body engraved with rococo 'C' scrolls, engine turning and floral sprays with a hinged cover and richly gilded interior. The box has clear and crisp silver assay and makers marks to the cover and base and has date marks for 1847. Provenance: The property of a gentleman. Sergeant Major Patrick Campion was enlisted with the 19th Foot in 1838 and served in Malta, the Ionian Islands, the West Indies, Canada, the Crimea and India amongst other postings. He received a DCM at the Battle of Alma ‘for his gallant rescue, in company with a couple of his comrades, of a wounded officer of his own company, who was lying in front of the Russian line’s.’ and despite being injured in this act, he recovered and would see action at Inkerman, Redan and the siege of Sevastopol. Wear to the leather covered fitted case...
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1840s English Early Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Silver

Portable Box Italian Tobacco Pouch in Enamel and Square Copper, 1950 Midcentury
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Portable box Italian Tobacco Pouch in enamel and square copper, 1950, midcentury. The upper part has a stylized and very elegant glaze, the box is in ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Antique Commemorative Tobacco Keeper, English, Lead, Decor, Snuff Box, Regency
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique commemorative tobacco keeper. An English, lead decorative snuff box with tamper, dating to the Regency period, circa 1810. Commemorative keeper crafted at the b...
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Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Lead

18th Century Georgian Hand-Carved Walnut Wood Tobacco Box
Located in North Miami, FL
18th century Georgian hand-carved walnut wood tobacco box on its original stand. This is an extremely fine and rare piece and one of its kind.    
Category

18th Century Georgian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood, Walnut

French Majolica Hound Medor Tobacco Jar Saint Clement
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica hound Medor tobacco jar Saint Clement, circa 1900.
Category

Early 1900s French Country Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Castle Top Vinaigrette, Warwick Castle, Birmingham, 1847, Nathaniel Mills
Located in London, GB
Nathaniel Mills. A very rare Castle Top Vinaigrette depicting a scarce view of Warwick Castle from the River Avon. Made in Birmingham in 1847 by Nathaniel M...
Category

1840s British Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique George IV Sterling Silver Gilt Table Snuff Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique George IV English sterling silver gilt table snuff box; an addition to our antique box collection. This...
Category

1820s English Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Black Forest Hand-Carved Wooden Terrier Box
Located in Northport, MI
This is a joyful novelty- a Black Forest hand-carved Terrier box. A beautifully executed piece with exceptional detail, right down to the tail. This terrier’s hind legs are attached ...
Category

1920s German Folk Art Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

German Concealed Erotic Snuff Box in the Manner of Stobwasser, C.1820
Located in Bath, GB
An early nineteenth century papier mache snuff box, japanned and bronzed. A romantic scene to the lid of the box and a "secret" sliding panel to the underside revealing a hand-painte...
Category

1820s Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Paper

Chinese lacquer Tobacco box with 24 carat pure gold decorations 1940s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Chinese lacquer tobacco box with 24 carat pure gold decorations
Category

1940s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate

Russian tobacco containers with carved and painted decoration, treen, C 1890
Located in Central England, GB
This rare pair of Russian folk art treen tobacco containers are beautifully hand turned from one solid piece of limewood. They have well hollowed interiors with a neatly fitting lid ...
Category

Late 19th Century Russian Folk Art Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

Louis XV Mother-of-pearl Snuffbox
By Louis Robin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Louis XV-period gold-mounted snuff box features lustrous panels of inlaid mother-of-pearl. The whimsical box takes the form of a barrel and features hinged lids on both ends. Di...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold

Snuffbox female face wearing Art Nouveau style clothing Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine hand-painted fire-enamelled miniature depicting a female face wearing Art Nouveau style clothing, hand-...
Category

1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

German Mid-century Ceramic Devil Card/Tobacco Case w/ Lid
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Rare Post-War ceramic case from Germany, likely by Bayreuth. It features a playful devil-like baby figure hanging over oversized playing cards, adorned with club and spade symbols. F...
Category

1950s German Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Georgian Louis XVI 18th Century Dutch Silver Snuff Box Scent Box 1782
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
18th century Dutch silver scent box On top a Depiction of Vice Admiral Zoutman The victor of the Dogger Bank Battle Made by Dirk Hoep 178...
Category

18th Century Dutch Georgian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Tobacco Box, Portuguese, Satinwood, Keepsake Case, Mid Century, C.1940
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage tobacco box. A Portuguese, rosewood and satinwood keepsake case dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1940. Beautifully prese...
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century Lucky Horseshoes Cigar Humidor Blackened Wood Brass Tin Lined
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Presented in unrestored condition a 19th century survivor, a Cerused Oak Cigar Humidor with Brass Script & 4 Horseshoe Adornments, Original Working Lock and Skeleton Key. Tin Lined ...
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Mid-19th Century American High Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

18th Century French Walnut Wooden Snuffbox, "Le Patre"
Located in Delft, NL
18th Century French Walnut Wooden Snuffbox, "Le Patre" French Walnut Wooden Snuffbox Titled "Le Patre" Walnut wooden box with a scene of a landscape Beautiful detailed cut scenery o...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Walnut

Decorative Box for Cigarettes in wood and Bakelite brown and White color France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative Box for Cigarettes in wood and Bakelite brown and White color France 20th
Category

1960s French Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood, Olive

19th Century Snuff Box with Intarsia
Located in Delft, NL
A 19th century snuff box with intarsia A horn snuff box with a diamond-shaped embedded smaller diamond-shaped surfaces on the box in relief. The box has been a utensil and is in goo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Horn

Papier-mâché Snuffbox, Painted with a Portrait of a Smoking Man
By Stobwasser
Located in Delft, NL
Papier-mâché Snuffbox, painted with a portrait of a smoking man A snuff box painted with a portrait of a smoking man with a glass of wine on the background, possibly after a paint...
Category

19th Century German Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Paper

Snuff Box round in Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè and hand-painted floral miniature, surrounded by a frame with leaves on a blue bac...
Category

1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

19th Century Wooden Shoe Shaped Snuff Boxes
Located in Delft, NL
19th century wooden shoe shaped snuff boxes Snuff boxes in the shape of a shoe. One papier-mache, one pewter and one wooden. The papier-mache and the pewter have a flap at the top. The wooden snuff...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Pewter

Tiny Regency Partridgewood Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming and extremely rare Regency period 19th century partridge wood tea caddy, of incredibly small proportions, having elegant pagoda shaped top enclosing lined interior raised on original brass ball feet. This is one of the smallest tea caddies we have ever seen. It also really is very charming indeed. The shape has real elegance and the overall package is just so very rare. Partridge wood is a wood imported from South America towards the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Available in particularly small sheets it was almost exclusively used in cross banded, or inlaid decorations or for very small decorative boxes...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Other

Tiny Regency Partridgewood Tea Caddy
Tiny Regency Partridgewood Tea Caddy
$1,178 Sale Price
30% Off
1950s Aldo Tura Mid-Century Modern Goatskin and Brass Pipe Shaped Tobacco Box
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A Goatskin and Brass tobacco box designed by Aldo Tura and manufactured by Macabo in the Fifties, it's in lovely vintage condition with brass in original patina. This exquisite tobac...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique Sterling Silver Double Snuff & Patch Box with Engine Turned Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique double compartment snuff box is hallmarked by an unknown maker, and originated from England, dating to approximately 1900 and done in a period Edwardian style. The box i...
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

1890s Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Tobacco Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver tobacco box; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver tobacco box has a plain oval rounded form. The underside of this box is embellished with a bright cut engraved stemmed rose, floral and foliate design; this indicates the high quality of the piece, as typically the underside would remain unembellished. The upper portion of this antique silver tobacco box...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Silver

Vintage HERMES Cornucopia Metal and Leather Cigarette Box
Located in Victoria, BC
Here is a handsome and classic 1950s vintage Hermès cigarette box. Cigarette box is heavy and wrapped in leather. Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) deco...
Category

1950s French Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Metal

Black Forest Carved Humidor in the Form of a Monkey Head Wearing a Cap & Collar
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Black Forest figural carved wood humidor in the form of a monkey's head with a hinged lid carved as a hat, around the neck is a ruffled collar above a circular base with carved detail.
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Wood

Snuff Box perforated, with a fine round miniature Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with perforated, embossed and hand-engraved lid, with a fine round miniature, diameter 3.8 cm, hand-painted in tempera on veg...
Category

1960s Italian Art Deco Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

18-C English Bilston Battersea Enamel Memento Mori, Memory of a Friend Snuff Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An 18th century Georgian English Bilston Battersea enameled snuff or patch box, the motto reads, “In Memory of a Friend.” An example of Memento Mori, which translates from the Latin,...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Copper

Antique Snuff Tin, English Gilt Metal, Lidded Box, Relief Decor, Victorian, 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique snuff tin. An English, gilt metal lidded box with relief decor, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. Fascinating decorati...
Category

Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Metal

19th Century French Papier Maché Snuff Box with Landscape and Figures Painting
Located in Milano, MI
French Painted Papier Maché Snuffbox 1800s. Snuff box of circular shape with fine painting on the lid depicting a mountain landscape with figures and herds crossing a river, a dove f...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Romantic Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Other

20th Century Carl Auböck Nutwood Humidor
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Auböck Humidor, Austria 1950s
Category

20th Century European Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Nutwood

Antique Kirk Baltimore Sterling Silver Pillbox with Pastoral Scene
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian sterling silver pillbox. Made by S. Kirk & Son Co. in Baltimore, ca 1910. Round with straight sides. Cover raised and overhanging with pictorial pastoral scene: Turrets and...
Category

Early 20th Century American Edwardian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Snuffboxes for Sale on 1stDibs

Today antique snuffboxes and tobacco boxes — as well as a lot of other vintage tobacco accessories — are collectibles and charming pieces of decor for any display case or to elevate your bookshelves.

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.

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.

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