What is a snuff box used for?

A snuff box is a small, decorated box used to store snuff ( scented, powdered tobacco). Snuff boxes come in two sizes: small pocket boxes and larger communal boxes for use at the table. Pocket boxes are often designed to retain a little amount of snuff for immediate use and are designed to hold a day or two's worth of snuff. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique and vintage snuff boxes.

When were snuff boxes invented?

Snuff boxes first appeared in England during the 17th century and became widespread in the 18th century. Snuff boxes range from simple designs to elaborately decorations. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique snuff boxes from some of the world’s top sellers.

How do you clean a vintage wooden box?

To clean a vintage wood box, wipe it with a soft cloth moistened with mild dish soap and water. You can use a soft-bristled brush and soapy water to remove dirt from the hinges and clasp. Next, use a fresh, damp cloth to wipe away the soap and then finish by drying with a third cloth. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of wood boxes.

Vintage Snuff Box

Cigarette Boxes

Vintage Tobacco

Snuff Jewellery

Silver And Guilloche Enamel Box

Vintage Cigarette

Art Deco Silver Snuff Boxes

Tobacco Jars

Champleve Box

Vintage Snuff Box For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal vintage snuff box for your home. Frequently made of metal, silver and enamel, every vintage snuff box was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a vintage snuff box — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A vintage snuff box is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Art Deco and Arts and Crafts styles are sought with frequency. A well-made vintage snuff box has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Alfred Dunhill, Jacques Cartier and Joseph Gloster are consistently popular.

How Much is a Vintage Snuff Box?

Prices for a vintage snuff box start at $172 and top out at $26,119 with the average selling for $431.

Finding the Right Snuff-boxes for You

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.

Questions About Vintage Snuff Box

What is a snuff box used for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
A snuff box is a small, decorated box used to store snuff ( scented, powdered tobacco). Snuff boxes come in two sizes: small pocket boxes and larger communal boxes for use at the table. Pocket boxes are often designed to retain a little amount of snuff for immediate use and are designed to hold a day or two's worth of snuff. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique and vintage snuff boxes.
When were snuff boxes invented?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Snuff boxes first appeared in England during the 17th century and became widespread in the 18th century. Snuff boxes range from simple designs to elaborately decorations. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique snuff boxes from some of the world’s top sellers.
How do you clean a vintage wooden box?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
To clean a vintage wood box, wipe it with a soft cloth moistened with mild dish soap and water. You can use a soft-bristled brush and soapy water to remove dirt from the hinges and clasp. Next, use a fresh, damp cloth to wipe away the soap and then finish by drying with a third cloth. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of wood boxes.