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...

78 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

A Georgian star turtle pocket snuff box with Sheffield Plated…

Georgian Star Turtle Snuff Box with Sheffield Plated Mounts

A Georgian star turtle pocket snuff box with Sheffield Plated mounts, early 19th century, 8 cm wide

An engine-turned rose-gold circular portrait miniature snuff…

An engine-turned rose-gold circular portrait miniature snuff box, French 19th century, marked 18kt-, 350 grams in weight, 4.5 cm diameter, 1.5 cm high

Victorian tortoise trinket box and snuff box, plain rectangular…

Victorian Tortoise Trinket and Snuff Box: Rectangular, 65mm, 53mm

Victorian tortoise trinket box and snuff box, plain rectangular 65 mm, 53 mm lengths

Two agate pill boxes, together with mother of pearl jewel box,…

Antique Agate Pill Boxes, Mother of Pearl Jewel Box, Carved Bear Snuff Box, Pocket Game

Two agate pill boxes, together with mother of pearl jewel box, carved bear snuff box and pocket game of Spellicans, ivory sticks

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated…

19th Century Stobwasser Snuff Box: Napoleon & Josephine Portrait

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated with double portrait of Napoleon & Josephine, 7.2 cm diameter

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated…

19th Century Stobwasser Snuff Box: Elderly Gentleman Portrait

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated with portrait of elderly gentleman, 9.3 cm diameter

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated…

19th Century Stobwasser Style Snuff Box with Portrait Lid

19th century Johann Stobwasser style snuff box, lid decorated with portrait of young woman, 8 cm long, 5 cm wide, 2 cm high

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…

Georgian period pinchbeck snuff box, rectangular box with…

Georgian Pinchbeck Snuff Box with Portrait Bust and Engravings

Georgian period pinchbeck snuff box, rectangular box with truncated corners. Portrait bust sinister of a gentleman under crystal. Engine turned cover and base, the sides hand chased with musical instruments and flowers, height 20 cm, width 6.5 cm, depth 5…

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…

Georgian agate snuff box and cover, of shaped oval form,…

Georgian Agate Snuff Box with Brass Mounts

Georgian agate snuff box and cover, of shaped oval form, decorated in mottled red, orange and opaque tones, with brass mounts, length 6.2 cm

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

Antique snuff box, 19th century carved ivory with pewter hinge…

19th Century Ivory Snuff Box with Pewter Hinge

Antique snuff box, 19th century carved ivory with pewter hinge and initialled medallion (some A/F)

A Victorian vulcanite snuff box, in the form of a woman's boot…

Victorian Vulcanite Woman's Boot Snuff Box with Pearl Buttons

A Victorian vulcanite snuff box, in the form of a woman's boot with mother of pearl buttons, length 10.5 cm.

Antique brass snuff box decorated with mice monogrammed to base,…

Monogrammed Mouse Decorated Antique Brass Snuff Box

Antique brass snuff box decorated with mice monogrammed to base, length 8.5 cm, .

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

Brass snuff box, 19th century double sided box with engraved…

Engraved Double-Sided 19th Century Brass Snuff Box

Brass snuff box, 19th century double sided box with engraved decorations to both lids

Two antique painted lacquer circular snuff boxes including:…

Pair of Antique Painted Lacquer Snuff Boxes

Two antique painted lacquer circular snuff boxes including: German lacquer box, with painted figure and lions to lid, diameter 8.5 cm and French lacquer box, with painted figure of a Gentleman to lid, diameter 9.5 cm.

A pair of brass snuff boxes, 18th/19th century. One is engraved…

Brass Snuff Boxes with Engraved 'Ana Gray' Text

A pair of brass snuff boxes, 18th/19th century. One is engraved with text 'Ana Gray'. Height 2.5 cm, width 8 cm, depth 5 cm

#A Georgian brass snuff box, with 'manly pursuits' engraved on…

Georgian Brass Snuff Box with Engraved Manly Pursuits

#A Georgian brass snuff box, with 'manly pursuits' engraved on the lid and base, with inscription 'A Gift from a Friend to Will M. Hoptroff'. 7 x 5.5 cm.

Late 19th century antler snuff box and cover, of rectangular…

Antler Snuff Box with Stag and Dog Carvings

Late 19th century antler snuff box and cover, of rectangular form, with hinged cover carved with stags and dogs, lenght 9.5 cm

An antique Georgian snuff box, with mother of pearl and paua…

Georgian Snuff Box with Inlay

An antique Georgian snuff box, with mother of pearl and paua shell inlay, height 2 cm, length 9 cm, width 5.5 cm

19th century English brass snuff box, of cylindrical form, the…

English Brass Snuff Box with William Pitt Bust Relief

19th century English brass snuff box, of cylindrical form, the cover moulded in relief with a bust of William Pitt, surrounded by raised text 'William Pitt', the sides with key-fret decoration, height 2.5 cm and diameter 5.5 cm

Vintage snuff box 8.5 cm x 5 cm, containing a single cuff link

Antique Snuff Box with Cufflink

Vintage snuff box 8.5 cm x 5 cm, containing a single cuff link

An agate snuff box, 19th century, 3.5 cm high

19th Century Agate Snuff Box - 3.5cm High

An agate snuff box, 19th century, 3.5 cm high

A Victorian wooden snuff box, square form with the exterior…

Victorian Decorative Wooden Snuff Box

A Victorian wooden snuff box, square form with the exterior profusely decorated with various scenes and motifs. 8 x 6 cm.

A mid-Victorian cowrie shell and pewter snuff box, pewter rim…

Victorian Cowrie Shell Snuff Box, Needs Repair

A mid-Victorian cowrie shell and pewter snuff box, pewter rim and hinged lid, marked THE MALT SHOVEL and DANIEL FINNEY DUNKIRK 1860, requires repair. 6 x 4.5 cm.

Early 19th century German scrimshawed bone snuff box, oval…

German Scrimshawed Bone Snuff Box with Gun Dog Design

Early 19th century German scrimshawed bone snuff box, oval shape, the hinged lid decorated with a gun dog chasing a bird, the front with landscape and verse, the back with a musical cherub

A wooden snuff box, with intricately worked scene carved in…

Intricate Relief Carved Wooden Snuff Box

A wooden snuff box, with intricately worked scene carved in relief, height 4 cm, depth 7.5 cm

Early 19th century handpainted snuff box decorated with a…

Handpainted Confessional Scene Snuff Box

Early 19th century handpainted snuff box decorated with a confessional scene, width 9.5 cm

A Colonial Australian sailor's snuffbox, carved whalebone with…

Colonial Sailor's Whalebone Snuffbox with Rope Motif

A Colonial Australian sailor's snuffbox, carved whalebone with rope motif, 19th century, 6.5 cm wide.. Provenance: Private Collection Hobart, Tasmania.

An antique ivory pocket snuff box, early 19th century, 4.5 cm…

Early 19th Century Ivory Snuff Box

An antique ivory pocket snuff box, early 19th century, 4.5 cm wide

A French gilded rococo double snuff box, of serpentine shape,…

Gilded Rococo Double Snuff Box with Agate Inlay

A French gilded rococo double snuff box, of serpentine shape, with inlaid white banded agate panels set to each hinged lid framed by scroll and floral embossed panels, the walls with conforming decoration. 6.3 x 4.8 x 3 cm.

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

Victorian turned ebony draughtsman shape snuff box, diameter: 8…

Victorian Ebony Draughtsman Snuff Box (8cm)

Victorian turned ebony draughtsman shape snuff box, diameter: 8 cm

18th century. Continental pewter snuff box of scalloped form…

18th Century Pewter Snuff Box with Religious Relief

18th century. Continental pewter snuff box of scalloped form with raised relief of S.Maria and S.Joseph scene. Width 62 mm, cupid to reverse

Georgian hand painted snuff box and cover, of circular form,…

Georgian Hand-Painted Snuff Box with Lady and Cupid Scene

Georgian hand painted snuff box and cover, of circular form, painted with a scene of a lady and cupid in garden, diameter 7 cm

Georgian snuff box, width 10 cm

Georgian Snuff Box: A Delicate Antique Treasure

Georgian snuff box, width 10 cm

Ivory circular snuff box, all carved and black stained with…

Black Landscape Snuff Box

Ivory circular snuff box, all carved and black stained with landscape engraving

18th century Dutch brass snuff box oval with hinged lid…

Dutch Oval & Rectangular Brass Snuff Boxes

18th century Dutch brass snuff box oval with hinged lid engraved with figures, animal and text, together with a later brass rectangular snuff box

Good Georgian wooden snuff box lid with impressed village scene…

Georgian Wooden Snuff Box with Impressed Village Scene Decoration

Good Georgian wooden snuff box lid with impressed village scene decoration, polished interior, with basket weave pattern to base, small crack to one corner, length 9.5 cm

A Victorian agate and brass snuff box, length 5.5 cm.

Victorian Agate Brass Snuff Box - 5.5 cm

A Victorian agate and brass snuff box, length 5.5 cm.

George III ivory & pewter snuff box oval shape the detachable…

George III Ivory & Pewter Snuff Box with Coin Lid

George III ivory & pewter snuff box oval shape the detachable lid with applied coin, together with a smaller circular snuff/pill box with antique coin to lid.

An antique Old Sheffield Plate snuff box, rectangular shape,…

Antique Sheffield Plate Snuff Box with Engraved Lid

An antique Old Sheffield Plate snuff box, rectangular shape, machine engraved hinged lid, ribbed sides, gilded interior with makers marks W.H.

A Persian lacquer snuff box, Qajar Dynasty, early 19th century,…

Qajar Lacquer Snuff Box with Reclining Ladies and Musician

A Persian lacquer snuff box, Qajar Dynasty, early 19th century, the lid decorated with a painted scene of two reclining ladies and a musician, all in a palace setting, 2.8 cm high, 9.5 cm wide, 5.6 cm deep

An early 19th century pressed and black lacquered 'Bonaparte'…

Bonaparte Snuff Box with Carriage Upholstery Fragments

An early 19th century pressed and black lacquered 'Bonaparte' snuff box, circular, a bust in profile in relief to the lid, fine pressed repeating diamond borders encircle, the white metal lined interior with two fragments, each labelled 'Piece of…

A Victorian white metal and hardwood octagonal Scottish snuff…

Victorian Scottish Snuff Box with Engraved Motifs

A Victorian white metal and hardwood octagonal Scottish snuff box, the swivelling lid engraved 'Isaac Bissell 1865' upon an octagonal plate engraved with Roman numerals and crossed flags, the reverse engraved 'Let Glasgow Flourish' within a ribbon above a…

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

Antique Cornish brass snuff box inscribed H. Wright St. Niot…

1864 Cornish Brass Snuff Box with Inscription

Antique Cornish brass snuff box inscribed H. Wright St. Niot 1864, 4.5 cm x 7.5 cm

Scottish 'Mauchline Ware' snuff box

Mauchline Ware Snuff Box from Scotland

Scottish 'Mauchline Ware' snuff box

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

Antique beechwood snuff box

Beechwood Snuff Box - Antique

Antique beechwood snuff box

Two antique snuff boxes, 7 cm long and smaller (2)

Antique Snuff Boxes, 7cm or Smaller (Set of 2)

Two antique snuff boxes, 7 cm long and smaller (2)

Epsom Royal Races snuff box

Epsom Races Snuff Box

Epsom Royal Races snuff box

A whale's tooth snuff box in the form of a clenched fist, early…

Whale Tooth Fist Snuff Box

A whale's tooth snuff box in the form of a clenched fist, early 19th century, with original wooden stopper, 7.5 cm high

Snuff casket. Ivory urn shaped vessel, carved and decorated…

Ivory Snuff Casket with Festival Scene

Snuff casket. Ivory urn shaped vessel, carved and decorated with a continuous band, depicting a festival with mountainous background, on stand with presentation box, height 14 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

Early 19th century Agate snuff box probably Scottish, Regency…

Regency Scottish Agate Snuff Box

Early 19th century Agate snuff box probably Scottish, Regency period. Approx 3 cm long

Two 19th century snuff boxes, brass. (2), the first with…

19th Century Brass Snuff Boxes with Shell and Engraved Lids

Two 19th century snuff boxes, brass. (2), the first with freshwater mollusc shell lid, the second with engraved lid 'J. McIntyre 1882', probably English. Provenance: Ken Cavill collection

German carved ivory snuff box, 18th century, the top carved…

18th Century German Ivory Snuff Box with Hunting Scene

German carved ivory snuff box, 18th century, the top carved with a hunting scene, the box carved with a bucolic scene depicting a lady and three young girls in garden. Length 8 cm. Provenance: Purchased from A. Buxton Pty. Limited, Sydney, 1983

Early 19th century snuff box, with marks stamped inside lid and…

Antique Snuff Box with Stamped Marks

Early 19th century snuff box, with marks stamped inside lid and base, 7.3 cm wide

Snuff box - probably German circa 1860

Antique German Snuff Box, c. 1860

Snuff box - probably German circa 1860

two 19th century snuff boxes, brass/tin lined. (2) one engraved…

19th Century Engraved Snuff Boxes

two 19th century snuff boxes, brass/tin lined. (2) one engraved 'H.W.', the second 'William Burpdret 1867' probably English.

Antique shoe form snuff box, 18 cm wide approx

Antique Shoe Form Snuff Box

Antique shoe form snuff box, 18 cm wide approx

Early 19th century Brunswick lacquer snuff box by Stobwasser…

Stobwasser's "The Desire" Lacquer Snuff Box

Early 19th century Brunswick lacquer snuff box by Stobwasser painted with young lady lounging in her underclothes entitled 'The Desire' and numbered 1148

A Georgian Prescot bass combination lock snuff box ( key…

Georgian Prescot Bass Lock Snuff Box with Key

A Georgian Prescot bass combination lock snuff box ( key =11/3/7)

A rare George III bird feather and painted ornithological snuff…

George III Bird Feather Snuff Box

A rare George III bird feather and painted ornithological snuff box and cover, English, circa 1800, approx. 6 cm diameter

Victorian snuff box

Victorian Snuff Box

Victorian snuff box

Snuff box inscribed John Balm Dec 25th 1877

John Balm's Christmas Snuff Box, 1877

Snuff box inscribed John Balm Dec 25th 1877

19th century lacquered snuff box with portrait to top

Lacquered Snuff Box with Portrait

19th century lacquered snuff box with portrait to top

Antique Scottish burr snuff box 17 cm wide, 13 cm high

Scottish Burr Snuff Box - Antique

Antique Scottish burr snuff box 17 cm wide, 13 cm high

Antique shoe shaped wooden snuff box

Wooden Shoe Snuff Box

Antique shoe shaped wooden snuff box

A banded agate and gilt-metal oval snuff box

Banded Agate Oval Snuff Box with Gilt-metal Accents

A banded agate and gilt-metal oval snuff box

An engraved brass hand. 20 cm long, together with a brass snuff…

Brass Hand and Snuff Box Set

An engraved brass hand. 20 cm long, together with a brass snuff box. 10 cm long

Georgian carved wooden snuff box in the form of a shoe

Georgian Shoe Snuff Box

Georgian carved wooden snuff box in the form of a shoe

Quality vintage horse head snuff box

Vintage Horse Head Snuff Box - High Quality

Quality vintage horse head snuff box