Snuff boxes are small, decorative containers used to store and carry powdered tobacco, known as snuff. The use of snuff dates back to the 16th century, and the popularity of snuff boxes grew along with the popularity of snuff itself.

Some of the European countries where snuff-taking was popular include:

•    France: Snuff-taking was particularly popular in France during the 18th century. The French royal court was known for its elaborate snuff boxes and the habit was popular among the French aristocracy.

•    England: Snuff-taking was introduced to England in the 17th century and quickly became popular among the upper classes. Many English gentlemen carried snuff boxes and the habit was seen as a sign of good manners and social status.

•    Germany: Snuff-taking was popular in Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly among the aristocracy.

•    Spain: Snuff-taking more...

57 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

An antique German enamel top and hardstone snuff box with…

18th Century German Enamel Moses Snuff Box with Ormolu Mount

An antique German enamel top and hardstone snuff box with ormolu mount, depicting a scene of baby Moses being released into the Nile, 18th century, 3 cm high, 5.5 cm wide

American sterling silver and enamel snuff box, marked W&B (Ward…

American sterling silver and enamel snuff box, marked W&B (Ward & Bartholomew) of elliptical form, the hinged cover with engine turned oval medallion, surrounded by engraved radiating motif, accented with blue and white enamel rings, with engine turned…

Victorian sterling silver, gold and enamel snuff box,…

Victorian sterling silver, gold and enamel snuff box, hallmarked Birmingham, 1881, C.C (Colen Hewer Cheshire), retailer Kilpatrick & Co., of oval form decorated with flowers, foliage and symbol in yellow gold, rose gold and enamel, with inscription to…

19th century European .800 silver and enamel snuff/trinket box,…

Romantic Enamel Silver Snuff Box, 19th Century European

19th century European .800 silver and enamel snuff/trinket box, rectangular form with cover painted romantic scene, reverse cover acanthus scroll engraved 75 mm length

An enamelled snuff box, mid 18th century, rectangular with…

18th Century Enamelled Snuff Box with Castle and Figures

An enamelled snuff box, mid 18th century, rectangular with slightly domed cover painted with a gentleman and lady with a castle beyond, on a pink ground with white lattice, the sides with rocaille vignettes of castles in landscapes, height 3.5 cm, width 7…

A German ormolu mounted enamelled snuff box, mid 18th century,…

18th Century German Enamelled Snuff Box with Parrots and Fruit

A German ormolu mounted enamelled snuff box, mid 18th century, of shaped rectangular outline, painted 'In colours' to the top and sides with parrots and fruit within raised rocaille borders, height 4.5 cm, width 9 cm, depth 6.5 cm. Provenance: The Robert…

An 18ct gold Continental (likely German) snuff box 'C.1,800'…

18ct Gold Blue Enamel Continental Snuff Box with Classical Scene

An 18ct gold Continental (likely German) snuff box 'C.1,800' having blue enamel panels with white dot and lined engine turning. With vine and beaded enamel border decoration. Having an oval shaped painted classical scene on lid and with stamped hallmarks…

An antique German snuff box with view of Schloss Pyrmont…

18th Century German Snuff Box: Schloss Pyrmont Enamel Agate Gilt

An antique German snuff box with view of Schloss Pyrmont (Pyrmont castle), attractively crafted in agate, gilt metal and enamel, 18th century, 4 cm wide

Fine Russian silver & enamel snuff box, marked 88 zolotniki,…

Russian Enamel Snuff Box, 20th Century

Fine Russian silver & enamel snuff box, marked 88 zolotniki, Moscow, 1908-1926, maker ??, of circular form with an inset hinged top cover, finely decorated in filigree and polychrome enamels, in predominant brown, blue, green and pink tones on a black and…

A Victorian banded agate snuff box and a small enamel box, 19th…

Agate and Enamel Boxes

A Victorian banded agate snuff box and a small enamel box, 19th century and later, the oval snuff box with hinged banded agate lid, the sides embossed with leaves border and cavorting animals, unmarked, together with a small circular enamel over copper…

An Austro-Hungarian silver gilt table snuff box, apparently…

Enamel-painted Skanderbeg snuff box from 1760

An Austro-Hungarian silver gilt table snuff box, apparently hallmarked 1760, oblong with hinged lid with enamel painted panel depicting the victorious George Gastrioti, the Albanian feudal lord and military commander known as Skanderbeg (1405-1468). The…

Birmingham Bilston enamel snuff box, blue enamel base with hand…

Birmingham Bilston Enamel Snuff Box

Birmingham Bilston enamel snuff box, blue enamel base with hand decorated lid that reads 'Thee and the Giver - are Thine for Ever' (A/F restored small enamel loss)

Staffordshire snuff box, c.1770 enamel with hand painted detail…

Hand-painted singing bird enamel snuff box

Staffordshire snuff box, c.1770 enamel with hand painted detail to lid depicting singing bird upon branch

A George III porcelain and enamel cherub snuff box, the two…

George III Cherub Snuff Box with Enamel and Ormolu

A George III porcelain and enamel cherub snuff box, the two cherubs, one covered in grapes to the top, the enamel base with some damage, ormolu mounts.

Russian silver snuff box having an oval form with cloisonne…

Russian Cloisonne Enamel Silver Snuff Box

Russian silver snuff box having an oval form with cloisonne enamel work and gilt interior. With late Moscow Kokoshnik mark after 1908. 84Mark. Work master not identifiable. 75.4 grams.

Mary Gregory snuff box, 19th century cobalt blue glass oval…

Cobalt Blue Glass Snuff Box with Hunting Scene Decoration

Mary Gregory snuff box, 19th century cobalt blue glass oval shape box with brass mounts and white enamel hunting scene decoration to lid

An antique enamelled gold and agate snuff box, an oval agate…

Enamelled Agate Gold Snuff Box with French Inscription

An antique enamelled gold and agate snuff box, an oval agate nodule cross section set lid to chalcedony base with 18ct gold engraved fittings featuring gold text 'En Amour Constant Sincere En Amitte' in a ground of white enamel, proably French, size 43 x…

A stunning Viennese snuff box, gilt metal and enamel decorated…

Viennese Enamel Snuff Box with Musical and Card Motifs

A stunning Viennese snuff box, gilt metal and enamel decorated with sheet music and playing cards, Austria, circa 1760, interior decorated and titled, Menuet, 4.5 cm high, 8.5 cm wide, 6 cm deep

A collection of silver and sterling snuff boxes and vesta cases,…

Collection of Silver Snuff Boxes and Vesta Cases

A collection of silver and sterling snuff boxes and vesta cases, comprising five pieces including an enamelled snuff box, vesta case makers mark; William hair Haseler, Birmingham, 1910, shield form snuff box; Albert Ernest Jenkins, Birmingham, 1909

A collection of enamel and silver snuff boxes, including one…

Enamel and Silver Snuff Box Collection

A collection of enamel and silver snuff boxes, including one with engine turned detail and gilded interior, a powder compact with mirror, a cherub box and one other

Art Deco sterling silver & enamel snuff box stamped 925, maker…

Art Deco Enamel Sterling Silver Snuff Box

Art Deco sterling silver & enamel snuff box stamped 925, maker Tk&Co, width 8.5 cm x depth 5 cm

Two 19th century enamel snuff boxes, one lemon yellow with a…

19th Century Enamel Snuff Boxes with Plaques and Flowers

Two 19th century enamel snuff boxes, one lemon yellow with a small landscape plaque to the lid outlined by the words 'A Friend's Gift', the other white with flowers to the walls, the lid with metal and pearl shell plaque set on a tortoiseshell panel.…

An Austrian malachite inlaid and enamelled silver gilt card and…

Malachite and Enamel Silver Gilt Box

An Austrian malachite inlaid and enamelled silver gilt card and snuff box, circa 1880, the dual hinged cover finely chased and gilt throughout with a central enamel oval picture of three figures, gilt wash interior and marked 800, 9 cm long, 6 cm wide

An early 19th century French porcelain and silver snuff box,…

French Porcelain and Silver Snuff Box with Gold Foils

An early 19th century French porcelain and silver snuff box, polychrome enamelled and highlighted with applied repousse gold foils of classical figures and scrolls laid over painted landscapes and floral swags. The silver rimmed lid and base with traces…

Sterling silver snuff box with enamel decoration depicting…

Enamel Scythe and Cherub Sterling Silver Snuff Box

Sterling silver snuff box with enamel decoration depicting scythe and cherub

A stunning Austro-Hungarian silver snuff box with purple…

Austro-Hungarian Enamel Snuff Box with Intaglio Rock Crystal Vignette

A stunning Austro-Hungarian silver snuff box with purple guilloche enamel and floral border, central intaglio rock crystal oval classical scene vignette, interior with original gilt wash, Vienna, circa 1900. 3 cm high, 8.5 cm wide, 6 cm deep

A French tortoiseshell lined Regency stripe enamel table snuff…

Regency Enamel Snuff Box with Miniature Painting

A French tortoiseshell lined Regency stripe enamel table snuff box with painted miniature to the top, circular, the top painted with a romantic couple framed by finely detailed gilt-metal borders. The red-pink striped enamel laid over a guilloche ground.…

A rare 18th century biblical subject bombe enamel snuff box,…

18th Century Biblical Enamel Snuff Box with Joseph Scenes

A rare 18th century biblical subject bombe enamel snuff box, probably German, finely enamelled with scenes from the life of Joseph and other subjects to the hinged cover, underside and cover interior, a spotted lanternfly painted to the well, unmarked…

A French tortoiseshell lined green enamel table snuff box with…

French Enamel Snuff Box with Portrait Miniature

A French tortoiseshell lined green enamel table snuff box with portrait miniature to the top, circular two part with an oval portrait framed by finely detailed gilt-metal borders, the portrait of a gentleman in uniform of the Constitutional Guard of Louis…

A late 18th century German enamel and rock crystal snuff box,…

18th Century German Enamel and Rock Crystal Snuff Box

A late 18th century German enamel and rock crystal snuff box, of oval shape with swollen sides, the hinged lid with silver claw set cabochon rock crystal magnifying panel, the interior painted with Mercury, Minerva and Amor, the walls painted with baroque…

A French enamel snuff box, probably Limoges, 19th century the…

19th Century French Enamel Courtesan Snuff Box

A French enamel snuff box, probably Limoges, 19th century the rectangular cover decorated with a scene of courtesans and companions in a classical interior 2.5 cm high, 8.5 cm wide, 5 cm deep

Art Deco sterling silver & orange guilloche enamel snuff box,…

Octagonal Art Deco Enamel Snuff Box in Sterling Silver

Art Deco sterling silver & orange guilloche enamel snuff box, octagonal shape, engine turned

A silver mounted boar tusk snuff box together with a small…

Silver Boar Tusk Snuff Box with Pig Figurine

A silver mounted boar tusk snuff box together with a small silver enamelled figure of a pig 6 cm length snuff box

A Continental silver snuff box, the top with floral scroll…

Enamelled Continental Silver Snuff Box

A Continental silver snuff box, the top with floral scroll engraving and two enamelled ribbons, with gilt interior. Marked 800, monogram Gb. C. 1910.mm, length 7.8 cm, width 5.4 cm.mm, width 76g

Early 19th century French 18ct gold snuff box, curved…

French 18ct Gold Enamel Snuff Box

Early 19th century French 18ct gold snuff box, curved rectangular with fine chase pattern, blue enamel highlights

An early 1900s enamel and silver snuff box, the lid decorated…

Enamel Love-Bird Snuff Box, Birmingham 1907

An early 1900s enamel and silver snuff box, the lid decorated with love-birds in a floral wreath on a purple guilloche enamel ground, import marks for Birmingham 1907 to the interior, length 6 cm.

An 18ct gold Continental (likely German) snuff box 'C.1800'…

18ct Gold Enamel Snuff Box with Classical Scene

An 18ct gold Continental (likely German) snuff box 'C.1800' with blue enamel panels over dot and lined engine turning. With vine and beaded enamel border decoration. Having an oval shaped painted classical scene on lid and with stamped hallmarks inside.…

An old enamel snuff box, decorated with ancient ruins in the…

Enamel Snuff Box with Ancient Ruins Decoration

An old enamel snuff box, decorated with ancient ruins in the Bilston or Battersea manner, diameter 70. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection

A 19th century silver and agate snuff box, the base and mildly…

Agate and Silver Snuff Box with Enamel Detailing

A 19th century silver and agate snuff box, the base and mildly domed lid panels as pale grey semi-translucent agate, silver engraved body, the lid with gilt scroll cartouche and rose enamelled black hardstone panel. Provenance: The Flower Family…

Rare 18th century Bilston enamel snuff box c.1750 A/F

18th Century Bilston Enamel Snuff Box A/F

Rare 18th century Bilston enamel snuff box c.1750 A/F

A rare oval cushion shape enamel snuff box in the style of…

Battersea-style Enamel Snuff Box, 18th Century

A rare oval cushion shape enamel snuff box in the style of Battersea 18th century the lid depicting a courting couple and compressed bowl classic scene of cupids, young ladies reading a book, the interior of lid depicting a stately home and bowl sailing…

Erotica sterling silver and enamel snuff box with a gilt wash…

Sterling Silver Erotica Enamel Snuff Box

Erotica sterling silver and enamel snuff box with a gilt wash interior, marked 925, 4.8 cm x 3 cm

An 18th century French silver snuff box with fitted watch to…

18th Century French Silver Snuff Box with Fitted Watch

An 18th century French silver snuff box with fitted watch to one end, with white enamel dial and engraved 'Roy Horologer, Rue St Honore, N 1424', 10.5 x 4.5 x 3 cm

A European rose gold and enamel oval table snuff box, 19th…

Enamel Rose Gold Snuff Box with Musical Scene

A European rose gold and enamel oval table snuff box, 19th century, probably Swiss, the hinged cover with an enamel panel of musicians serenading a young couple within a band of enamel flowers and blue bands and yellow guilloche enamel, similarly…

Cigarette & snuff box. Gold water gilt 800 silver, two…

Gold and Silver Cigarette Box with Enamel and Malachite

Cigarette & snuff box. Gold water gilt 800 silver, two compartment box, chased decoration in part, set with blue enamel & malachite, main lid decorated with oleograph, painted in the 16th century style of the three scholars, cased, width 9 cm

A 19th century enamelled table snuff box, lozenge form with…

Enamelled Landscape Snuff Box with Bronze Mounts

A 19th century enamelled table snuff box, lozenge form with bronze mounts, the lid painted with animals and figure in an extensive landscape, floral spray highlights, underglaze marks to the base. 10.8 cm x 5.5 cm x 4.5 cm

Georgian fine tortoiseshell & enamel snuff box painted with two…

Georgian Enamel Tortoiseshell Snuff Box with Diamond Accents

Georgian fine tortoiseshell & enamel snuff box painted with two panels of a young courting couple, with an enamelled jardinier with flowers above & a wild boar hunting scene below, each set with small diamonds. Condition, good to fair, some expected…

Austrian sterling silver & enamel snuff box with classical…

Austrian Enamel Snuff Box with Classical Scene

Austrian sterling silver & enamel snuff box with classical scene, gilt lined, 9 cm x 6 cm, 1.1 cm high approx.

Continental silver & enamel snuff box (A/F to enamel), approx 7…

Enamel Snuff Box with Continental Silver (A/F)

Continental silver & enamel snuff box (A/F to enamel), approx 7 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm

Antique Continental silver & enamel snuff box with gilt interior

Enamel Snuff Box with Gilt Interior

Antique Continental silver & enamel snuff box with gilt interior

A French snuff box by Christian Petschler, the oval snuff box…

Christian Petschler French Enamel Snuff Box with Miniature Portrait

A French snuff box by Christian Petschler, the oval snuff box featuring blue enamel on engine turned detail, centred with an oval miniature portrait, all within surrounds of green and gold foliate detail, in 18ct gold, French hallmarks, circa 1820 67 mm x…

A German gold and enamel snuff box, Les Freres Toussaint, Hanau,…

Enamelled German Gold Snuff Box, 1780

A German gold and enamel snuff box, Les Freres Toussaint, Hanau, prestige marks, circa 1780, slender oblong form, the sides and base enamelled in translucent sepia enamel featuring classical architecture in landscapes, within enamel berry and leaf borders…

A German gold and enamel snuff box, maker's mark a crowned 'J',…

German Gold and Enamel Snuff Box with Equestrian Scene

A German gold and enamel snuff box, maker's mark a crowned 'J', French prestige marks, the rectangular box with canted corners, engine-turned body, the enamelled lid depicting a uniformed gentleman on horseback accompanied by his dog beside an estuary…

A German gold and enamel snuff box, Les Freres Toussaint, Hanau,…

Blue Enamel Peacock Feather Snuff Box, Hanau 1790

A German gold and enamel snuff box, Les Freres Toussaint, Hanau, circa 1790, the oval gold box enamelled in a translucent royal blue to a sunray guilloche ground, the cover featuring three gold peacock feathers with floral sprigs and tied with a ribbon,…

A c.1900 Austrian silver and enamel snuff box of rectangular…

Austrian Enamelled Silver Snuff Box

A c.1900 Austrian silver and enamel snuff box of rectangular form and elongated oval cross section, decoratively enamelled in shaped white bands with gilt highlights, restrained engraved detail, radiating designs to the ends, engraved tapered thumbpiece,…

Sterling silver and enamel snuff box marked 925, 8 x 5 cm approx

Enamel Sterling Silver Snuff Box - Marked 925, 8x5cm

Sterling silver and enamel snuff box marked 925, 8 x 5 cm approx

Persian silver and enamel snuff box signed to the upper right…

Persian Enamel Snuff Box with City Scene

Persian silver and enamel snuff box signed to the upper right corner, decorated with a Persian city scene, minor loss to the enamel. Dimensions 5 x 3.5 x 1.5 cm