18th Century Snuff Box

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the 18th century snuff box you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, gold and enamel, every 18th century snuff box was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a 18th century snuff box — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A 18th century snuff box is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Georgian, Louis XVI and neoclassical styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one 18th century snuff box that is appealing in its simplicity, but Bilston Battersea, Meissen Porcelain and Pierre-Francois Mathis de Beaulieu produced versions that are worth a look.

Prices for a 18th century snuff box can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $235 and can go as high as $137,931, while the average can fetch as much as $5,803.

Today antique snuffboxes and tobacco boxes — as well as a lot of other vintage tobacco accessories — are collectibles and charming pieces of decor for any display case or to elevate your bookshelves.

Snuff, made of ground tobacco, was especially popular with Europeans in the 1600s. The ornate boxes to keep the powder dry became highly decorative by the 18th century. It was considered a must-have item, particularly for nobility.

The most important feature of a snuffbox was that it was airtight. The box protected the snuff from oxygen. Another crucial component was the flat lid.

Snuffboxes could be small enough to fit into a pocket or a larger container for communal use at the table. They also came in different shapes. Porcelain containers were prevalent and often designed to look like trunks. Others were oval or square. Boxes made with cowrie shells were rare and more expensive.

Snuffboxes were usually crafted from silver, gold, horn or tortoiseshell. Some of the most prestigious snuffboxes were French tabatières made of gold and sometimes glass. They could be adorned with amethysts, sapphires and diamonds and enameled, engraved or chased.

Sheffield, England, was known for its silver snuffboxes in the late 18th century as its silver-plating technologies perfected these containers. By the early 19th century, the silver industry in Birmingham, England, was producing elegant snuffboxes with images of abbeys and castles on the sides and top.

Another type of tobacco box was the snuff mull or mill. It was made out of horn or an entire ram’s head and topped with a metal lid, frequently featuring engravings and decorative hinges. These were fashionable in Scotland during the 19th century. The origin of its name is unclear.

On 1stDibs, find a plentiful range of antique snuffboxes and tobacco boxes to complement any home decor or furniture style. You can browse the collection by style, which includes Victorian, Georgian and Art Deco, or by material to find pieces in silver and gold.