Silver Snuff Boxes
June 13, 2009 by Thomas Howard
Filed under Snuff Boxes
Collecting snuff boxes is a wonderful hobby as these fascinating and useful objects have an interesting history.
At one time, these small decorative boxes were an indispensable fashion accessory for gentlemen, dandies, and aristocrats from the 1700s to the mid 1800s.
Silversmiths, jewelers and enamelers went to great lengths to make fine examples of these jewel-like yet utilitarian objects. Gentlemen of Quality all possessed collections of snuff boxes, some of which were very ornate and had golden frames encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones. Some, of course, were plain and made for a less well-to-do clientèle.
Besides silver and gold, one also finds boxes made of tortoise shell, mother of pearl, pewter or wood. The lids were often decorated with portraits, vignettes of various scenes and even miniature copies of paintings by Old Masters.
Snuff taking and snuff boxes remained popular among diplomats even after the practice had ceased to be popular in general. Heads of State kept the practice of giving snuff boxes as gifts to visiting diplomats as a form of honorific for many years.
For example, at the coronation of George IV of England, the court jewelers, Rundell and Bridge, were paid approximately $40,000 in today’s value for snuff-boxes given as gifts to foreign ministers.
Snuff boxes today are collected by people from all walks of life and are avidly sought by collectors and museums.
To bid on any item below, simply click on the blue link next to the item. If you are new to online auctions, you can see my New to Auctions page for more information, including a very nice free video tutorial.
 ANTIQUE sterling SILVER pill BOX SNUFF BOX vintage  US $199.00 |  Dutch SNUFF BOX between 1733 1749 Silver box Riechdose US $194.50 |
 Sothebys Gold Snuff Boxes Silver Vertu Paris 09 US $19.99 |  Antique Turkmen Silver Snuff Tobacco Box Case 1920 US $812.50 |
 Rare Magic Max Andrews VAMPIRE MAGIC SILVER SNUFF BOX 1950s US $46.85 |  Suberb Victorian English Silver Large Table Snuff Box Scottish Glasgow Interest US $1,398.08 |
 Suberb Victorian English Silver Large Table Snuff Box Scottish Falkirk Interest US $1,398.08 |  ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER SNUFF OR PILL BOX US $130.00 |
 ANTIQUE VINTAGE REPOUSSE 900 SILVER PILL SNUFF BOX LARGE PIECE HALLMARKED US $45.00 |  PRIMITIVE Antique ARTISAN Tibetan Silver pil Snuff box US $42.00 |
 PRIMITIVE Antique ARTISAN Tibetan SILVER snuffbox US $42.00 |  Good Engraved Silver Plate Snuff Box US $70.29 |
 Antique Solid Silver Pill Snuff Box Engraved 1907 Edwardian Birmingham Dish Gilt US $161.77 |  925 SILVER Oval Pill Snuff BOX HILL TRIBE HANDMADE US $25.95 |
 Antique William IV Heavy Silver Enamelled Snuff Box 1835 36 US $257.75 |  2 x Vintage Deco CLOISONNE ENAMEL STERLING SILVER PILL SNUFF PATCH TRINKET BOX US $74.35 |
 1912 DOLLY MADISON BREAKFAST STERLING SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX WOMENS SUFFRAGE US $26.00 |  English Sterling Silver Large Snuff Box by E Smith 1867 US $550.00 |
 ANCIENT STERLING SILVER ENAMEL WORK BOX SNUFF BOX 1025 US $99.00 |  ANTIQUE STERLING OLD SILVER BOX PAPER BOX SNUFF BOX US $140.00 |
 ANTIQUE STERLING OLD SILVER SNUFF BOX US $80.00 |  STERLING SILVER SQUARE SHAPE SHELL BOX SNUFF BOX 899 US $99.00 |
 VINTAGE ANTIQUE ETHNIC TRIBAL OLD SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX US $99.00 |  VINTAGE ANTIQUE OLD SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX 792 US $156.00 |
 VINTAGE ANTIQUE OLD STERLING SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX HING US $99.00 |  VINTAGE ANTIQUE TRIBAL OLD SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX COLLECT US $99.00 |
 Vintage 800 Solid SILVER Engraved Flower Design PILL BOX Snuff Case Trinket US $99.99 |  800 SILVER CLOISONNE ENAMEL OLD PILL SNUFF JAR BOX US $125.00 |
 antique Victorian SILVER SNUFF BOX Pill Box STERLING FRANCE FRENCH US $21.50 |  VINTAGE TAXCO MEXICO STERLING SILVER SNUFF TRINKET PILL BOX TE 26 325gr US $103.51 |
 Antique German Silver Snuff or Tobacco Box with Gold Wash and Engraving US $99.99 |  Vintage Sterling Silver Charm Pendant Opening Prayer Snuff Box 50g US $18.99 |
 19C ANTIQUE FRENCH STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX TOBACCO CASE VERMEIL GILT GILDED NR US $437.10 |  Antique Fan Shaped Snuffbox Snuff Box Silver Inlaid Lid US $119.99 |
 ANTIQUE SILVER VINAIGRETTE WEDDING SNUFF BOX SCANDANAVIAN JEWELS HOVEDVANSAEG US $1,012.21 |  UNIQUE FRENCH SILVER SNUFF BOX w PUTI FLOWERS BUTTERFLIESSIGNED US $199.99 |
 Vtg ANTIQUE Classical Greek Roman SILVER Repousse PILL SNUFF Box ITALY US $28.89 |  Victorian Papier Paper Mache Snuff Box w Silver Larger US $55.00 |
 Victorian Papier Paper Mache Snuff Box w Silver Smaller US $45.00 |  Victorian Papier Paper Mache Snuff Box w Silver Medium US $46.00 |
 ► ANTIQUE OLD CRESCENT SILVER WOOD HUMIDOR SNUFF BOX 5 US $199.00 |  Antique Austrian Silver Black Enamel Snuff Box US $400.00 |
 RUSSIAN SILVER ENAMEL SNUFF BOX US $850.00 |  ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX long size 891 US $99.00 |
 SOLID SILVER TWO PART BOX SNUFF BOX INDIA US $157.00 |  VINTAGE ANTIQUE Sterling SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX US $95.00 |
 VINTAGE s STERLING SILVER BOX SNUFF BOX US $450.00 |  Vintage Italian Firenzi Florence Sterling Silver Snuff Stash Box US $275.00 |
 vintage WMF silver plate oval shape snuffbox US $49.99 |  English Presentation Sterling Silver Large Snuff Box by E Smith 1867 US $600.00 |
 STERLING SILVER PILL BOX PENDANT POCKET WATCH STYLE SNUFF BOX UNIQUE US $32.00 |  Superb 19th century silver snuff box US $421.77 |
 Antique OTTOMAN Turkish Crescent SILVER NIELLO Tobacco Cigarette CASE Snuff BOX US $285.00 |  Antique Vtg Silver German 800 snuff pill box hinged embossed hallmarked US $67.00 |
 925 Sterling Silver Oval Shaped Engraved Pill Snuff BOX US $31.23 |  ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER HEART SHAPE PILL SNUFF BOX 1900 US $48.44 |
 925 STERLING SILVER Enemal Horse and Jokey Motif Square Pill Snuff Box US $54.66 |  ASIAN ANIMAL MINI ELEPHANT SILVER SNUFF OINTMENT PILL BOX CAMBODIA ETHNIX US $125.00 |
 ANTIQUE SMALL SOLID SILVER DANISH 1834 TEA CADDY OR SNUFF TABLE BOX US $45.30 |  SILVER PILL SNUFF BOX US $40.00 |
 Vintge Taxco sterling silver snuff pill box BOOK TH 46 925 US $16.38 |  Very rare Tiffany Co sterling silver turtle pill box 925 Italy snuff case US $375.00 |
 Enamel top snuff or pill box lovely condition was sold to me as silver US $22.99 |  FINE Antiq Sterling Silver Guilloche Enamel Snuff Box US $987.55 |
 SILVER ENGRAVE DOG PATTERN SNUFF BOX US $.31 |  Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Tobacco Box Germany c1920 US $267.19 |
 ANTIQUE RUSSIAN 84 SILVER NIELLO SNUFF BOX GK PERFECT US $750.00 |  Antique Edwardian solid silver SNUFF BOX hallmarked for Birmingham 1906 US $195.26 |
 tibet SILVER ENGRAVE ONFOO DOG PATTERN SNUFF BOX US $.01 |  antique Russian 1880s silver 84 niello enamel snuff box US $350.00 |
 VERY RARE GEORGIAN 1788 SOLID SILVER DOUBLE OPENING SNUFF BOX JOHN WHITTINGHAM US $334.29 |  SILVER PILL SNUFF BOX CAT DESIGN GORGEOUS SOLID US $31.23 |
 STUNNING 19th CENTURY RUSSIAN SILVER GOLD NIELLO SNUFF BOX 1834 US $182.77 |  925 STERLING SILVER Enemal Hunters and Horses Motif Square Pill Snuff Box US $54.66 |
 SHELL SNUFF BOX IN STERLING SILVER WITH UNASCRIBED EARLY MAKERS MARK US $159.33 |  English sterling silver 925 snuff box with two lids US $8.38 |
 HANAU STERLING SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX ANTIQUE c1900 CAST HARVEST SCENE LID US $48.35 |  Engraved Silver Snuff Box Ca Late 19th Early 20th Cent US $100.00 |
 Rare 19th Century Silver Snuff Box Collection Estate $SAVE 50 NOW ONLY $400 US $400.00 |  Antique Silver Carved FAUX Ivory Pill or Snuff Box ITALY 800 Silver US $99.99 |
 Antique snuff box English silver US $84.99 |  Antique Jade Silver Oval Box Snuff box engraved plum blossoms BIN US $7.38 |
 Solid Sterling Silver Theatre Mask Pill Snuff Box Lid US $55.99 |  Chinese Old Tibet Silver Inlay Coral Snuff Box ☆☆☆☆☆ US $6.72 |
 Chinese Old Tibet Silver Handwork Inlay Turquoise Snuff Box ☆☆☆☆☆ US $22.65 |  Vintage Sterling Silver Shell Pill Snuff Trinket Box Hallmarked US $19.49 |
 Silver Snuff Trinket Box w high relief scene w snakepeacock Asian warrior US $32.00 |  Antique Vintage Carved Wood Silver Inlay English Snuff Box Farmer Plow Ox Inlaid US $19.95 |
