European Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver with fine hand-painted fire-enamelled miniature depicting the Head of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Dimensions cm. 5.5 x 7 x 1.8. Weight gr. 105. Designed by Giorgio Salimbeni in 1975 in Art Deco style and executed in numerous specimens, at the specific request of the firm Tiffany & Co., in Florence in the headquarters of the Salimbeni firm with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for sustaining numerous high-fire enamelled firings at approximately 750 < 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real...

19th century hand-carved humidor in the form of a dog's head. The dog is very whimsical with a hat, which lifts to reveal a compartment for storage and finished with a cigar and a bo...

18th Century Mennecy Porcelain Swan Snuff Box, modelled as a swan and decorated in polychrome enamels, the hinged lid revealing a floral interior.

Sterling silver Jewel box with Rectangular rounded corners gold plated with translucent fire enamel stripes on guilloche and hand engraved with late Russian Empire style ornament app...

An 18th Century Large South Staffordshire Table Snuff Box, painted with figures and animals by classical ruins on a riverscape. 8.25" wide x 5.5" depth x 3.25" high

An excellent quality late 18th or early 19th century Battersea enamel snuff or patch box. The pink enamel background with white enamel lattice and a raised gold around the hand paint...

An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian English sterling silver vesta box modelled in the form of a tortoise; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian cast sterling silver vesta box has been realistically modelled in the form of a tortoise. The plain oval body of this Victorian vesta box is embellished with cast and applied components replicating the details of the tortoise's legs and head. The anterior surface of this rare box features an applied oval serrated panel / match striker. The hinged tortoiseshell cover opens to reveal the original gilt interior. The underside of the body bears the contemporary engraved inscription 'July 1883'. Condition This antique Victorian vesta box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. There are some blemishes and wear to the original gilding, in keeping with age. Full hallmarks struck to the underside of the body are very clear. Dimensions length 8.4cm/3.3" width 5.5cm/2.2" height 3.2cm/1.3" Weight 2.4 troy ounces/73.9g (including tortoiseshell cover) Maker: Thomas Johnson II Date: 1882 Origin: London, England Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique vesta box...

This exceptional Swiss silver-gilt musical snuff box was crafted by the famed François Nicole. At first glance, the diminutive piece appears to simpl...

A magnificent, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian English sterling silver vesta box modelled in the form of a boar; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This magnificent antique Victorian cast sterling silver vesta box has been realistically modelled in the form of a boar. This impressive antique vesta case is embellished with details replicating the features of the boar's coat of fur and anatomical features. The back of the boar incorporates a hallmarked hinged cover which opens to reveal the serrated panel/match striker. The secondary hallmarked hinged panel opens to reveal the original gilt interior; this is faciliated with a thumbpiece modelled in the form of the boar's tail. Such magnificent period examples are rare and becoming increasingly difficult to locate. Condition This antique Victorian vesta box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. Full hallmarks struck to the underside of the body, in addition to part hallmarks to the interior of each hinged cover are very clear; the hallmarks are struck deeply due to the exceptional gauge of silver. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique vesta box...

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-...

18th Century Bilston Enamel Rectangular Patch / Snuff Box Circa 1780, white with hand-painted floral motifs around edges and base, and a central scene of a lady in hat, white interio...

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...

Description: Gold snuffbox with enamel garlands surrounding a depicted young woman figure, profusely defined fleur-de-lis, plumes, and asymmetrical engravings on the reverse. Metal: ...

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique George IV English sterling silver gilt table snuff box; an addition to our antique box collection. This magnificent antique George IV sterling silver gilt table snuff box has an oval rounded form. The body of this impressive antique snuff box...

An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box, decorated with a couple with Cupid in parkland, the white base with flowers on a gilt diaper ground . 3.125" wide x 2.5" depth x 1.5" h...

Oval rounded "soap" shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver with fired enamels above and below and hand-painted miniature of a horse's head, English "Art Nouveau" style, early 1900s. Measurements cm. 4.7 x 6.7 x 2. Weight gr. 96. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1980 and manufactured in Florence in the headquarters of the Salimbeni company with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous enamelled firings at high heat at about 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Austro-Hungarian silver box, an addition to the ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique silver box...

Description: Silver snuff box with friezes on the surround and floral motifs engraved on the hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: Porto Corôa. Weight: 43.64 grams. D...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and enamel sentry vesta case; an addition to our range of collectable silver cases. This exceptional an...

Anglo Indian, early 19th century. A highly unusual Antique hand carved 4-section tea caddy. The box which features a carved ribbon edge hinged lid, which opens to reveal four individually wood lined tea boxes with brass finial handles. The body is not only beautifully carved with blooming floral designs but it is also inset with 8 classical tin Manganese Delft...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver combination vesta and tobacco box; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique George V sterling silver tobacco box has a plain circular rounded form. The upper portion of this antique silver...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George III English sterling silver combination snuff and pill box; an addition to our Georgian silverware collection. This exceptional an...

Silver mustard pot / Antique sterling sliver seasoning pot Antique sterling silver mustard / glass lined seasoning pot 1919 Beautifully crafted ant...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare circa 1900 Shargreen cigarette box present to the Jockey Bernard Brownie Carlsake in 1927 A very rare good looking a...

A charming and finely detailed 19th-century Black Forest–style hand-carved tobacco jar. Entirely carved from wood and executed with remarkable depth and texture. A rare large size to...

Rare silver-plated cigarette box with a gilt-plated deer head opening. It is in good condition and is signed on the side "HERMÈS PARIS / Made in France." There is also a hallmark. ...

Light wood cigarette box, France, 1930s. Charming light wood cigarette box with a superb natural grain in warm honey and brown hues. Its rectangular shape with clean lines is enhanc...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique English sterling silver gilt tobacco box; an addition to our 18th century collection This exceptional English antique George III sterling silver gilt tobacco box has an oval form. The surface of this antique box is plain and retains the original gilding. This antique tobacco box retains the original push fit cover embellished with an impressive shield shaped cartouche displaying the crest of a bull below the engraved name 'F Daw'. The surface of the cover is further ornamented with impressive bright cut engraved floral festoon and ribbon bow designs. The rim of the cover is encompassed with a thread decorated border. This impressive example of Georgian silverware was crafted by the renowned and collectable female silversmith Hester Bateman; such examples crafted by this lady silversmith...

An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box Top / Lid, decorated with a Lady and Gentleman with a flute in parkland, gilt scroll border, the unde...

The elaborately carved snuff box with a scene of two mermaids on the cover and deeply carved shell on the reverse.

Description: Silver snuff box with Islamic-style reliefs. Metal: Silver. Origin: Middle East. Mark: Absent. Weight: 44.14 grams. Dimensions: 5.3cm x 1.8cm. Content: 925/1000. Assay M...

A Viennese Bouquet: Art Nouveau Snuff Box by Franco Salimbeni, 1973 This exceptional round snuffbox is a profound homage to the opulent artistry of late 19th-century Viennese Art No...

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.

A fine antique Austro-Hungarian silver and enamel cigarette/card case; part of our continental silverware collection This fine antique Austro-Hungarian silver and enamel cigarette/card case has a rectangular form with rounded edges. The front cover is embellished with an enamel panel depicting two Japanese ladies playing traditional Japanese instruments, the koto (13 stringed zither) and the shamisen (3 stringed guitar-like instrument). The players are seated on the ground in an outdoor scene with traditional Japanese lanterns hanging from tree branches overhead. The sides of this cigarette case and posterior cover are plain and unembellished. The case is fitted with a push fit catch which when released reveals the hallmarked gilt interior of the hinged compartments. The hallmarks to the interior of this impressive case include: Silver quality/purity: Dianakopf mark (800 standard, 800/1000) Assay mark: L (Ljubljana, Slovenia) This variation of the Dianakopf mark was used from 1872-1922, determining the date of this piece as circa 1900. Condition This antique silver business card holder...

Set Of 3 Bacco Smoking Lighter & Ash Trays in Horn, Brass & Wood by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: Lighter: D 10 x W 10 x H 9 cm. Cigarette Ash Tray: D 16 x W 16 x H 4...

A fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver table snuff box; an addition to our diverse silverware collection. This fine antique sterling silver table snuff box has a rectangular form with rounded corners. The surface of this Victorian snuff box...

Description: Silver snuffbox with engraving and hinged lid with opening clasp. Metal: Silver. Origin: Russian. Brand: Unknown. Weight: 70.05 grams. Dimensions: 6.5cmx5cm. Content: 87...

Description: Gold snuffbox with enamels and Taj Mahal profusely in relief, perfect friezes, guilloche reverse and hinged lid. Metal: Gold Origin: French Mark: Fleur-de-Lys Weight: 13...

Rectangular box with three tones of gold and royal blue enamel. The hinged lid is embellished with a multicolored gold medallion in relief featuring a bouquet of roses and tulips, se...

English Pewter decorative foliage and figural tobacco jar with a molded edge lid and gadrooning rope borders, Late 18th Century.

Crafted in Northern France circa 1880, this engaging pair of antique figural faience tobacco jars is executed in the manner of Onnaing, reflecting the lively humor and expressive mod...

Pastoral box. Carved antler, wood, metal. Spanish school, 1861. Submit registrations. Oval box made of antler carved in its color, with wood on the lid to reinforce it, decorated o...

This striking vintage cigarette box with support in leather was designed and crafted in Spain, 1980's. The cigarette box is in excellent conditio...

A Fine George III Gold Mounted Snuff Box, Most Probably for a Lady. Made Almost Certainly in London circa 1790. The Snuff Box is of an unusual smaller size and was most probably for...

The front of the case exhibiting an exquisite hand painted panel depicting sprays of irises in shades of lavender, royal blue & green, set against a radiant white enamelled machi...

German silver and enamel cigarette case Origin Germany Circa 1930 Hand-painted scene of two beautiful hunting dogs its interior is ver...

A Swiss Carved Black Forest Linden Wood Tobacco Box Modelled as an owl probably by one of the Ruef brothers who specialised in carving owls. For a similar example see Jay Arenski an...

The outer ring slides to allow the snuff box to be opened. Engraved Silver Monogram on top.

Description: Two-tone silver snuffbox with traces of gold on the inside and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: Middle East. Brand: Unknown. Weight: 99.14 grams. Dimensions: 10cmx7cm....

This offer is for one of our rare Majolica items, an exceptional tobacco box pot or jar out of the sack series by Johann Maresch from the beginning of the 20th century. The beautiful...

The rectangular Cloisonné Box designed by the Italian artist Giovanna Ferrero Ventimiglia is a stunning piece crafted from rich bubinga wood, showcasing a deliberately textured finis...

Description: Smooth silver snuffbox with wooden interior and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: Italian. Brand: Florence. Weight: 253.22 grams. Dimensions: 16.5cmx11cm. Content: 925/...

A beautiful hand-crafted ceramic lidded trinket or jewelry box. Mid-20th century, French. Used as decorative item, this piece would enhance any shelf or tabletop. Measures: 6 1/8...

Description: Silver snuff box with a couple in an idyllic scene in relief engraving, enamel panel and gilded interior. Metal: Origin: Austria. Brand: Diana's Head. Weight: 135.65 gra...

Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fire enamel on guilloche and hand-painted miniature of stylized blue bird, late 19th-century Viennese Art Nou...

English Georgian gilt sterling silver snuffbox, 1812. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged and tabbed; on top, chased pastoral scene: A shepherd sits under a tree with a lam...

Description: Rectangular guilloche silver snuff box with monogram plaque and caninha-style fluting. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: javali II Title. Weight: 51.78 grams. Di...

Dutch silver pill box, 1869 A Dutch silver small cartouche-shaped pill box with engraved floral decor on the lid. The silver box has a hinged lid. The box is Dutch silver hallmarked...

Description: Oval-shaped gold snuffbox with floral inlays in tortoiseshell, enameled friezes, garlands, and a reverse side with profusely defined engravings. Metal: Gold Origin: Fren...

Description: Guilloche silver tobacco box with wood-lined interior. Metal: Silver. Origin: English. Brand: London. Weight: 710.30 grams. Dimensions: 17.9cmx5.2cm. Content: 925/1000. ...