Novelty snuff boxes are highly collectable. The more unusual the shape the more collectable the snuff box. It was common to mount silver snuff boxes with a hardstone. The pinnacle of hardstone mounted boxes was the middle of the 18th century when gold was used to mount precious stones like agate and lapis lazuli.
Snuff can damage plain silver, but as gold is inert it resists corrosion. To stop snuff damaging the silver the inside of most snuff boxes is coated with a layer of gold. However, sometimes a silversmith would have the entire box gilded and fully gilded snuff boxes are very sought after.
There are two sizes of snuff box: pocket and table. Pocket snuff boxes are common and were made for personal use. Table snuff boxes were made to be used communally and are much larger. They were often given as presentation items and might have an engraving on which can add value.
There was a large number of snuff boxes made in Scotland. The most common are like the one pictured above and are often called snuff mulls. The horn is hollowed out at the top and mounted with a silver clasp.
They are especially valuable when they have been made by a rare silversmith. Mark Littler Ltd. We offer trusted, independent advice to help you sell your silver snuff box for the highest possible price. If you have a silver snuff box you may be considering selling at auction.
An auction can be one of the best ways to sell your collection, however, not all auctions are equal so care must be taken when considering which auction house to use. We can make a personal introduction to the best saleroom based on your location free of charge. You can then be assured your collection of silver will sell for the highest possible price. If we think it will be more beneficial to you, we can also negotiate private sales, which can save you considerably in commission.
Private sales can also be completed swiftly and you will get paid more quickly than if you sell via an auction. Send us details about your piece directly via email or use the form below.
We contact our international network of customers for the best offers. Send us your snuff box. We have a fully insured courier service available. Snuff production grew vastly in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was more popular than smoking or chewing tobacco. Aside from being the preferred means by nobility and royalty, doctors recommending it as a cure-all may have also been an impact on its popularity. Snuff was seen as an effective treatment for headaches, cough, and colds.
With the growing demand, retail shops that specialise in dealing snuff and paraphernalia popped up all over as well. Artisans began crafting beautiful containers for which to store snuff. Snuff boxes were made to keep the precious powder dry in between uses. Artisans used a variety of materials in creating these boxes. Fine metals such as silver and gold were often used, as well as horns which was very common , tortoiseshell, porcelain and ivory.
Though rare, some snuff box artisans also made use of precious stones such as agate, lapis lazuli, bloodstone and jade. They often come as rectangular boxes, but one can find them in other shapes like ovals and shells. Snuff boxes were decorated with engravings or hand-painted with miniature portraits and wonderful scenery and landscapes. They could be enamelled or inset with mother-of-pearl. One could determine the status of the owner based on the ornamentation on their snuff box.
The wealthy could have cameos of themselves, family crests, lodge devices, heraldic, masonic or guild symbols engraved, painted, or carved onto their snuff boxes. Tabatieres, which are boxes produced in France, were made using more gold over silver and were encrusted with precious gems like sapphires, rubies, amethysts, emeralds, pearls, and diamonds.
Sheffield was the primary source of silver snuff boxes in the late 18th century as silver plating technologies were perfected there.
By the early 19th century, Birmingham developed a thriving silver industry. Snuff boxes of the time featured abbeys, monuments, and castles on the lids as well as their sides.
Birmingham also produced snuff boxes featuring US naval heroes and scenes of victory from War of , which were sold in the United States. In Asia, the Chinese made use of snuff bottles to store the snuff, which they also perceived as medicinal. These bottles were made from porcelain, glass, or jade and resembled flattened discs. The carved glass bottles were painted from the inside with the use of tiny right-angled brushes instead of pointed ones. The snuff box was a highly customised, major personal possession in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was often given as a present for very important occasions and was seen in the same light as jewellery and other family heirlooms. They could also be brought out when entertaining guests.
These come in a variety of shapes, and the ones made from porcelain often resembled trunks or large shells. Snuff mulls originated in early 19th century Scotland. These are easily recognisable as they are fashioned out of horn and has a metal lid.
Snuff box lids were often adorned with a portrait or classical vignette, with the most expensive just using different subtle colours of gold. Lot - A late 18th century Swiss three colour gold oval snuff box, maker's mark, incuse VM, Geneva, circa , the hinged lid and base with bright cut engraved scroll decoration and two colour gold foliate border, the lid with central octagonal panel depicting scene of a dog chasing birds, the bright cut engraved sides with four two colour gold panels decorated with lyres.
Lot - A good late 18th century French gold, simulated pearl and white and blue enamel snuff box by Augustin-Andre, of octagonal form, each panel decorated with blue guilloche enamel, white enamel and simulated pearl decoration with gilt foliate and star motifs, charge mark for Jean-Francois Kalendrin. Be sure to keep an eye out for these fantastic lots in our Autumn Sale, on Tuesday 1st October Search form. Site-wide search Search all lots Enter terms.
You are here Home News Collecting Antique Snuff Boxes Collecting Antique Snuff Boxes Upcoming Lots Past lots Site Ahead of the Autumn fine sale, where we feature three fantastic examples of the Snuff box, we take a more detailed look at the Snuff box, its history and what to look for when collecting this fascinating antique.
What is Snuff? What are Snuff Boxes?
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