Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century European Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Ormolu
1890s Chinese Qing Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Elm, Pine
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Copper, Enamel
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Wood, Paint
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Chinese Edwardian Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Ceramic
19th Century European Folk Art Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Marble, Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Late 20th Century French French Provincial Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Porcelain
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Crystal
Early 20th Century Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Silver
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Enamel
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.