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.

Free Collector's Guide

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.

Victorian Papier Paper Mache Snuff Box w Silver Larger    US $55.00

Victorian Papier Paper Mache Snuff Box w Silver Smaller    US $45.00

Antique Austrian Silver Black Enamel Snuff Box    US $400.00

VINTAGE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX kokoshnik 84 hallmark    US $207.10

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN HALLMARKED SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX c1900    US $64.96

VINTAGE HALLMARKED SILVER TRINKET SNUFF PILL BOX c1979    US $39.59

Superb Antique c1840 French Niello 4 MUSICIANS Silver SNUFF BOX    US $1,188.23

OLD SNUFF PILL BOX FAUX TORTOISE SHELL STERLING SILVER    US $230.00

Silver coloured Pill Snuff Box Collectable with enamel detail on the lid    US $1.43

Vintage Anni Co Sterling Silver Tribal Overlay Snuff 3D Box Slide Pendant    US $78.99

1954 Press Photo Silver snuff box bright engraving    US $27.88

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN ENGRAVED EMBOSSED CHINESE SILVER PILL PATCH SNUFF BOX    US $65.19

Georgian Silver SNUFF BOX c1770 Shell Mounted Provincial Irish Maker FC    US $196.45

Antique Silver pill snuff box    US $44.00

JEWELED ASIAN CHARM PENDENT SILVER GEMSTONE PURSE PILL POISEN BOTTLE SNUFF BOX    US $26.00

ORNATE FLEUR DE LIS STERLING SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX    US $39.99

Viennese Enamel on Sterling Silver Box Casket or Snuff Box Figural    US $535.50

VINTAGE PILL SNUFF BOX SILVER PORCELAIN ENAMEL    US $9.99

UNIQUE VINTAGE SIGNED STERLING SILVER 925 ENAMEL BIRD OF PARADISE SNUFF BOX PILL    US $99.00

SUPERB ANTIQUE AUSTRIA AUSTRIAN STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX CASTLE SCENE C1850    US $695.00

1911 BHam Sterling Silver Engraved Tobacco Snuff Circular Container Box    US $76.72

RUSSIAN SILVER CARD SNUFF TOBACCO BOX MADE IN MOSCOW SIGNED FYEDORE MAKENIOV    US $895.00

RUSSIAN SILVER AND ENAMEL CARD SNUFF TOBACCO BOX CASE    US $795.00

Fine Antique Austro Hungarian 800 Silver Tobacco Snuff Box Ca 1890    US $400.00

Fine Antique French Sterling Silver Tobacco Snuff Box Paris Ca 1870    US $650.00

French Sterling Silver Tobacco Snuff Box By Claude Doutre Roussel Paris Ca 1900    US $450.00

George V Sterling Silver Curved Tobacco Snuff Box Clark Sewell Chester 1911    US $350.00

Sterling Silver Rectangular Tobacco Snuff Box By Joseph Gloster Birmingham 1964    US $350.00

Victorian Sterling Silver Tobacco Snuff Box By Francis Clark Birmingham 1846    US $650.00

Victorian Sterling Silver Tobacco Snuff Box By Nathaniel Mills Birmingham 1838    US $700.00

Wooden snuff box with silver inlay circa 1900    US $8.50

antique Russian 1880s silver 84 niello enamel snuff box    US $350.00

SOLID SILVER HALLMARK LONDON A DNORMAN TRINKET SNUFF PILL BOX 65 GRAMS    US $49.11

A SUPERB EXQUISITE ANTIQUE SOLID SILVER HANAU TABLE SNUFF BOX    US $253.49

ANTIQUE 19thC RARE CONTINENTAL GERMAN SILVER ENAMEL DOG SNUFF BOX c1890s    US $196.45

ANTIQUE 19thC REGENCY SILVER VINAIGRETTE SNUFF BOX BIRMINGHAM c1833    US $129.91

Superb Georgian pressed burr wood silver snuff box    US $253.49

Amazing Antique Chinese Silver Good Luck Snuff Box Chinese Characters People    US $200.00

925 Sterling Silver Oval Shaped Engraved Pill Snuff BOX    US $31.67

SILVER DOUBLE SNUFF BOX BERTHOLD MULLER 1904 NEEDS REPAIR    US $61.39

Solid Silver Dutch tobacco snuff Needle Box c1892    US $32.48

Solid Silver Dutch Armoire tobacco snuff Needle Box c1826    US $72.88

ANTIQUE PIQUE SILVER – MOTHER OF PEARL CARVED WOODEN SHOE SNUFF BOX C1840    US $237.65

Dutch Solid Silver Antique Style Cushion Shape Tobacco or Snuff Box by Neikerk    US $83.97

SUPERB PERSIAN STERLING SILVER FISH SHAPED SNUFF BOX PILL BOX VINAIGRETTE 2    US $599.99

SUPERB PERSIAN STERLING SILVER FISH SHAPED SNUFF BOX PILL BOX VINAIGRETTE    US $499.99

ANTIQUE ENGLISH HALLMARKED STERLING HINGED SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX BE PREPARED    US $103.50

ANTIQUE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL SILVER SNUFF BOX WITH MOSS AGATEPAVEL OVCHINIKOV    US $750.00

Rare 19th Century Silver Snuff Box Collection Estate $SAVE 50 NOW ONLY $400    US $280.00

Antique China Silver Snuff Box Marked China Silver    US $11.00

ANTIQUE AUSTRIA KARL TAUBOCK 800 SILVER SNUFF BOX W HELMETED SOLDIER    US $57.88

M Buccellati Antique Sterling Silver Italy Carnelian Pill Snuff Box    US $100.00

Russion Tortoise Shell Snuff Box With Enamel on Silver Decoration    US $199.99

Large Vintage Sterling Silver Chased Etched Floral Repousse Pill or Snuff Box    US $130.99

1858 STERLING SILVER HALLMARK DATED SNUFF BOX DUTCH    US $85.00

19th C Continental SILVER ROCK CRYSTAL Snuff BOX NR    US $345.00

Collectable Victorian Sterling Silver and Enamel Pear Pill or Snuff Box    US $90.00

Amber Agate Silver Patch Box Snuff Box    US $84.75

Charming Vintage Asian Silver Box w Hinged Lid Pill Snuff Ring Box CUTE    US $9.99

BEAUTIFUL TINY VINTAGE ANTIQUE SILVER RELIGOUS PILL SNUFF BOX JESUS ANGEL CHILD    US $15.95

1930s 40s Silver Turquoise Snuff Pill Box RARE    US $75.00

c1880s SNUFF BOXpapier macheINLAID silver and paua shellBeautiful condition    US $156.69

European German 800 Silver Rectangular Pill Snuff Box    US $549.99

Sothebys Gold Snuff Boxes Silver Vertu Paris 09    US $19.99

Lk Fantastic Vintage Sterling SILVER Flowers Daisies Big Snuff Jewellery Box    US $129.99

Antique Silver Presentation Snuff Box 1856 Benj F Pinckney John B McDonnell Esq    US $.99

Antique Swedish hallmarked silver snuff box 1865 Heavy quality    US $40.00

BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE CLOISSONÈ ENAMEL ENGLISH SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX MAPPIN WEBB    US $200.00

BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE TWO TONES CLOISSONÉ ENAMEL ENGLISH SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX    US $250.00

Take a Pinch with Sir Robert Rogers Compliments Silver Plated Snuff Box    US $5.86

Vintage Silver Abalone Taxco Mexico Pill Snuff Box    US $125.00

Meriden Company Silver Plated Table Snuff Box 127 57 oz 4 Long    US $11.00

1920 SOLID SILVER SNUFF BOX ADIE LOVEKIN    US $39.61

1856 BEAUTIFUL EDWARD SMITH LARGE SOLID SILVER SNUFF BOX 835 grams    US $245.57

Antique Late Victorian Silver Pill Box Snuff Box 1894 95    US $15.83

Vintage Sterling Silver Pill Snuff Box    US $185.00

Vintage Navajo Sterling Silver Round Pill Snuff Box Turquoise Stamped    US $75.00

Superb Antique Sterling Silver Miniature Camel Snuff or Pill Box    US $56.29

Vintage Silver and Cinnabar Pill Snuff Box    US $115.00

VINTAGE FILAGREE ORNATE STERLING SILVER 925 TRINKET PILL SNUFF RING BOX FM83    US $19.99

Antique Signed Japanese 950 Sterling Silver Coin Round Pill Snuff Box NR    US $29.99

WELLS STERLING SILVER Box Pill Pin Snuff Pink ROSES top1 1 2 DIA 1 2 Deep    US $34.95

VINTAGE REPOUSSE ITALIAN PILL SNUFF BOX SILVER W GOLD FINISH INSIDE ROMAN SCENE    US $14.99

BEAUTIFUL STERLING SILVER ROUND SHAPE PILL SNUFF BOX    US $9.99

BEAUTIFUL STERLING SILVER OVAL SHAPE PILL SNUFF BOX    US $9.99

BEAUTIFUL STERLING SILVER PUMPKIN SHAPE PILL SNUFF BOX    US $9.99

Old Tibet Tibetan Silver Turquoise Dragon Snuffbox    US $299.99

Exqusite Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box w attached Ring Chain NO RESERVE    US $13.63

LOVELY VINTAGE CARVED ROSEWOOD SNUFF BOX WITH SILVER FITTINGS HORSE WINDMILL    US $19.99

ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER ART NOUVEAU PILL BOX SNUFF BOX    US $159.00

RUSSIAN STERLING SILVER GILDED NIELLO SNUFF BOX 1800S    US $949.00

VINTAGE OLD CRESCENT SILVER WOOD HUMIDOR SNUFF BOX 5    US $199.00

Antique 1895 SILVER Snuff Trinket Pill Box ROCOCO style Goldsmiths Silversmiths    US $451.53

Antique Sterling Silver Jade Pill Snuff Box    US $99.99

Vintage Italian Firenzi Florence Sterling Silver Snuff Stash Box    US $230.00

ANTIQUE SILVER SNUFF BOX ORNATE LONDON 1900 M Freeman    US $355.00

Fine Victorian Sterling Silver Book Shape Vinaigrette Snuff Scent Box Ca1850    US $550.00

The Most Magnificent Rare Huge Solid Silver Table Snuff Box Sweden 1867    US $4,744.98

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