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...

44 items found:

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

An antique Indian silver snuff box, 19th century, 9.5 cm wide,…

19th Century Indian Silver Snuff Box, 9.5 cm, 144g

An antique Indian silver snuff box, 19th century, 9.5 cm wide, 144 grams

A 19th century Anglo-Indian silver gem studded snuff box, the…

A 19th century Anglo-Indian silver gem studded snuff box, the hinged cover embossed with nesting birds all set with rubies, emeralds, sapphires and half pearls 8 cm long

Mid 19th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, marked…

Mid 19th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, marked Khecheong, Canton, of rectangular form, with central cartouche, surrounded by engraved vine decoration, total weight 49gm, 5.8 cm x 3.7 cm. Provenance: collection of the late Fredric Sinfield,…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked Mk,…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked Mk, probably Cantonese, of rectangular form, the hinged cover with plain rectangular reserve, surrounded by lingzhi, bat, coins and floral motifs, with foliate motifs to base, total weight 43gm, 5.3 cm…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked, probably…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked, probably Cantonese, of rectangular form, the hinged cover with plain rectangular reserve, surrounded by acanthus and floral motifs, with gilt interior, total weight 69gm, 6 cm x 3.8 cm. Provenance:…

Chinese silver snuff box and cover, marked, in the form of a…

Chinese silver snuff box and cover, marked, in the form of a book, with rectangular cartouche to cover, surrounded by engraved bats and lotus flowers, total weight 33gm, 4.6 cm x 3.5 cm. Provenance: collection of the late Fredric Sinfield, Sydney NSW,…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked Mk,…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked Mk, probably Cantonese, of rectangular form, the hinged cover with plain rectangular reserve, surrounded by fruit and foliate motifs, total weight 28gm, 4 cm x 2.5 cm. Provenance: collection of the late…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked K,…

19th century Chinese export silver snuff box, marked K, probably Cantonese, of rectangular form, the hinged cover engraved with foliate motifs, with ring handle, total weight 36gm, 4.8 cm x 3 cm. Provenance: collection of the late Fredric Sinfield, Sydney…

Chinese silver and mother of pearl snuff box, together with…

Chinese Silver and Mother of Pearl Snuff Box with Canister

Chinese silver and mother of pearl snuff box, together with sterling silver canister with pin-holed end 5.5 cm, 4.5 cm lengths

Rare Komai Otojiro Meiji period Japanese snuff box, damascene…

Rare Meiji Period Japanese Snuff Box with Gold and Silver

Rare Komai Otojiro Meiji period Japanese snuff box, damascene rectangular shape box decorated with genuine gold figures on the boat with island scene and silver mount Fuji at the distance against matte black ground, nine character seal mark to base for…

Chinese cloisonne teapot on stand, circular dragon box, enamel…

Chinese Cloisonné and Enamel Boxes and Teapot Set

Chinese cloisonne teapot on stand, circular dragon box, enamel snuff box and a metal trinket box, 19th/20th century, (4 items), the teapot 9.5 cm high overall

Chinese silver decorated snuff box with inset stone decoration…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box with Grape and Vine Decoration

Chinese silver decorated snuff box with inset stone decoration to lid, of grape and vine leaf decorated silver base, character marks to base, height 3 cm, length 5 cm.

A Chinese snuff bottle and snuff box, 19th/20th century, (2…

Chinese Snuff Bottle and Box Set

A Chinese snuff bottle and snuff box, 19th/20th century, (2 items), the box 6.5 cm wide

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…

Chinese silver spoons and Chinese weights six silver Chinese…

Chinese Silver Spoons, Weights, and Snuff Box

Chinese silver spoons and Chinese weights six silver Chinese coin spoons and a Russian spoon with 84 mark. Two Chinese weight cions in silver. A small Chinese snuff box. Weight: 406.0 grams.

sterling silver vesta case fluted spiral form, together with an…

Fluted Spiral Vesta Case and Cherub Pill Box Set

sterling silver vesta case fluted spiral form, together with an unmarked oval pill box, the lid decorated with a cherub, and an Eastern square shaped snuff box

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover,…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box Cover with Carved Foliage

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover, impressed Chinese character marks, of rectangular form, with central reserve, surrounded by carved foliage, length 3.3 cm

Early 20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover, impressed S.…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box Cover with Floral Motifs

Early 20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover, impressed S.C, 85, of rectangular form, with central reserve surrounded by floral motifs, length 3.5 cm

Chinese silver 'Wang Hing' snuff box in the form of a book,…

Chinese Book-Shaped Silver Snuff Box by Wang Hing

Chinese silver 'Wang Hing' snuff box in the form of a book, stamped WH 90, height 3.5 cm

Chinese silver & mother of pearl snuff box mother of pearl…

Chinese Silver & Mother of Pearl Snuff Box

Chinese silver & mother of pearl snuff box mother of pearl inset to lid, with engraved monogram to centre, hallmarked silver case, Chinese hallmarks to base, length 7 cm.

Early Oriental mother of pearl decorated snuff box mother of…

Oriental Mother of Pearl Snuff Box with Tortoiseshell Sides

Early Oriental mother of pearl decorated snuff box mother of pearl inset decoration to lid and base, opening to box of tortoiseshell sides, hinge requires repair, length 6 cm.

19th century enamel patch box, 'A Trifle from Pool' together…

Enamel patch box and assorted cases

19th century enamel patch box, 'A Trifle from Pool' together with sterling silver vest case, papier mache snuff box and Japanese box (some faults)

Agate seal and snuff box, glass ornaments, necklace, wooden…

Assorted Decorative Collectibles Set

Agate seal and snuff box, glass ornaments, necklace, wooden bowl, pottery animals and statue, 19th and 20th century, (10 items), the statue 19 cm high

An 18th century snuff box of silver framed Canton carved…

18th Century Canton Carved Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Box

An 18th century snuff box of silver framed Canton carved mother-of-pearl, the walls, hinged lid and base all of luminous iridescent shell, each superbly carved in low relief with a ribbon outlined cartouche of scale pattern on a field engrailed diagonally…

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover,…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box Cover with Floral Motifs

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box cover, impressed Chinese characters, of rectangular form, with central reserve, surrounded by flowers and foliage, length 3.5 cm

Early 20th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover,…

Chinese Silver Acanthus Snuff Box

Early 20th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, impressed Chinese characters, of rectangular form, decorated with reserve on a ground of acanthus, length 4 cm

Late 19th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, impressed…

Chinese Acanthus Engraved Silver Snuff Box

Late 19th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, impressed Khc for Khecheong, of rectangular form, engraved with acanthus, length 4 cm

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover,…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box with Bamboo Shoot Design

Late 19th/20th century Chinese silver snuff box and cover, impressed M.K and character, with reserve surrounded by bamboo shoots, length 4.5 cm

A finely Chinese carved tortoiseshell Qing period circular…

Chinese Carved Tortoiseshell Snuff Box

A finely Chinese carved tortoiseshell Qing period circular table snuff box intricately carved to the slightly domed lid with a figure and fenced garden in a mountainous landscape, the sides with leafy border to the top and buildings to the base, the base…

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain snuff box, circa…

Famille Rose Porcelain Snuff Box, 1800

A Chinese export ware famille rose porcelain snuff box, circa 1800. 9.5 cm across

Three Chinese lidded boxes, the largest of circular form with…

Chinese Zodiac and Dragon Embossed Lidded Boxes

Three Chinese lidded boxes, the largest of circular form with Chinese zodiacal figures embossed to the lid, another as a rectangular snuff box with gilt highlights, the other in copper with relief dragons. The largest, diameter 9.5 cm.

A small Chinese silver oblong snuff box, the hinged lid…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box with Engraved Initials and Markings

A small Chinese silver oblong snuff box, the hinged lid engraved with initials, maker's mark 'MK' (Canton) and a two character mark inside the lid, width 3.2 cm.

Chinese cicada form snuff box brass and copper, with Chinese…

Chinese Brass Cicada Snuff Box with Script and Mark

Chinese cicada form snuff box brass and copper, with Chinese script to top, and character mark to base, length 6.5 cm

A 19th century large banded agate and gilt metal table snuff…

Banded Agate Snuff Box with Chinese Panel

A 19th century large banded agate and gilt metal table snuff box, curved and faceted form, the hinged lid with applied Chinese carved and pierced panel of two figures, serpentine thumb piece. 9.2 cm x 7.6 cm x 3.8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family…

A 19th century finely carved tortoiseshell Chinese circular…

Intricately carved Chinese tortoiseshell snuff box

A 19th century finely carved tortoiseshell Chinese circular table snuff box, intricately carved to the slightly domed lid with figures and pavilions in a wooded landscape, the sides with leafy border to the top and buildings to the base, the base with…

A 19th century Chinese finely carved tortoiseshell table snuff…

Chinese Tortoiseshell Snuff Box with Intricate Carvings

A 19th century Chinese finely carved tortoiseshell table snuff box, circular form, intricately carved to the slightly domed lid with figures in a landscape, the sides with floral designs, the base with figures in gardens and pavilions. Diameter 11 cm.…

A Chinese export .90 silver snuff box, late Qing Dynasty,…

Chinese Silver Snuff Box with Bamboo Decoration

A Chinese export .90 silver snuff box, late Qing Dynasty, 1840-1915, with factory mark of wing Chung, Hong Kong, a small rectangular box decorated with bamboo and a vacant circular cartouche upon a textured ground to the lid, with embossed bamboo and…

An antique Chinese export mother-of-pearl and silver snuff box,…

Qing Dynasty Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Box

An antique Chinese export mother-of-pearl and silver snuff box, Qing Dynasty, 19th century, the rectangular hinged box with canted corners, finely engraved to the lid with figures engaged in a narrative in a pavilion and garden setting, centred with a…

A Chinese ivory snuff box, 19th century, profusely carved with…

Carved Chinese Ivory Snuff Box with Figures and Trees

A Chinese ivory snuff box, 19th century, profusely carved with figures among pavilions, blossom and fir trees, 8.5 x 6 x 2 cm

Austrian silver gilt snuff box large oval moss agate centre and…

Austrian Enamel and Agate Snuff Box

Austrian silver gilt snuff box large oval moss agate centre and floral plique-a-jour surround and green cloisonne enamel sides, C:1920

A c1880 Chinese export silver snuff box, rectangular form, the…

Chinese Export Silver Snuff Box with Floral Engravings

A c1880 Chinese export silver snuff box, rectangular form, the lid with engraved lozenge form panel, floral highlights, curved thumb piece the hinged lid enclosing a gilt washed interior, stamped with makers' mark M K, Canton. 4.5 cm x 3 cm x 1.5 cm

A mid-19th century Chinese silver snuff box by Khecheong of…

Khecheong Cantonese Silver Snuff Box

A mid-19th century Chinese silver snuff box by Khecheong of Canton, machine engraved hinge lid and base, waisted sides, remains of gilt to the interior, the interior lid with makers' marks. 5.3 cm x 3.4 cm x 15. Weight 43gms

A Chinese carved jade Qilin snuff box 19th / 20th century with…

Carved Jade Qilin Snuff Box

A Chinese carved jade Qilin snuff box 19th / 20th century with small stopper inset to back, 12.5 cm length

Chinese bronze and white brass (Haitong) snuff box. Cicada form,…

Chinese Cicada Snuff Box with Mark

Chinese bronze and white brass (Haitong) snuff box. Cicada form, three character mark to base. Length 7 cm