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.
 STUNNING 19th CENTURY RUSSIAN SILVER GOLD NIELLO SNUFF BOX 1834  US $324.56 |  925 STERLING SILVER Enemal Hunters and Horses Motif Square Pill Snuff Box US $54.37 |
 SHELL SNUFF BOX IN STERLING SILVER WITH UNASCRIBED EARLY MAKERS MARK US $158.49 |  English sterling silver 925 snuff box with two lids US $53.00 |
 HANAU STERLING SILVER SNUFF PILL BOX ANTIQUE c1900 CAST HARVEST SCENE LID US $49.72 |  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 0 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 $33.00 |
 Solid Sterling Silver Theatre Mask Pill Snuff Box Lid US $55.99 |  Chinese Old Tibet Silver Inlay Coral Snuff Box ☆☆☆☆☆ US $16.31 |
 Chinese Old Tibet Silver Handwork Inlay Turquoise Snuff Box ☆☆☆☆☆ US $22.53 |  Vintage Sterling Silver Shell Pill Snuff Trinket Box Hallmarked US $26.00 |
 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 |
 Amber Agate Silver Patch Box Snuff Box US $324.75 |  ANTIQUE VTG 925 STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX HUNTER SCENE DOG GOOSE US $52.97 |
 1930s 40s Silver Turquoise Snuff Pill Box RARE US $75.00 |  c1880s SNUFF BOXpapier macheINLAID silver and paua shellBeautiful condition US $146.22 |
 SOLID SILVER SNUFF BOX OR TOBACCO 839GRAMS CHESTER 1908 US $57.49 |  Antique Stag Horn and Faux Tortoiseshell Snuff Box with Silver Deer US $132.07 |
 Snuff Box Tobacco Box Silver US $190.00 |  Snuff Box Pill Box Silver US $72.00 |
 Chinese Old Tibet Silver Handwork Dragon Snuff Box ☆☆☆☆☆ US $13.52 |  antique snuff chatelaine sterling silver mirror finger compact box fob D F B US $69.95 |
 Antique Snuff box silver bands and inlay US $40.00 |  Lk Fantastic Vintage Sterling SILVER Flowers Daisies Big Snuff Jewellery Box US $129.99 |
 Old Ornate Solid Silver Trinket Pill Snuff Box Pot Circular Continental Foriegn US $18.13 |  Russian Antique Silver and Niello Snuff Box US $450.00 |
 Chinese silver snuff box marked MK 88 plus chinese charcter floral design to lid US $54.38 |  Chinese silver snuff box with stylised flowers to lid 275g US $54.38 |
 ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER SNUFF OR PILL BOX US $130.00 |  SILVER SNUFF BOX CHERUB REPOUSSE DECORATION GRADE 930 IMPORT HALL MARKS 1901 US $186.44 |
 DECORATIVE 19th CENTURY SOLID SILVER DUTCH SNUFF BOX US $120.50 |  SPLENDID ANTIQUE SILVER DUTCH SNUFF BOX OR RING BOX US $83.91 |
 925 STERLING SILVER Fairy Motif Oval Pill Snuff Box US $57.48 |  830 SILVER SNUFF BOX US $150.00 |
 VINTAGE STERLING SILVER HEART SHAPE PILL SNUFF BOX 925 US $91.33 |  Vintage Silver Abalone Taxco Mexico Pill Snuff Box US $125.00 |
 Vintage Sterling Silver Pill Snuff Box US $185.00 |  Antique Silver Plate Snuff Box Cigarette Case US $4.99 |
 LUNT ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX US $195.00 |  Vintage Silver and Cinnabar Pill Snuff Box US $115.00 |
 Ornate Silver Pill Box Vintage Snuff Box US $5.00 |  ANTIQUE SILVER SNUFF tobacco BOX Hand Carved with engraving MINIATURE 1850 US $445.00 |
 Antique Russian Silver Snuff Box old 84 hallmark US $13.05 |  Small antique 800 silver pill snuff box with fleur de lis design US $20.50 |
 ANTIQUE RUSSIAN SILVER NIELLO SNUFF BOX HALLMARKS 1880s US $145.00 |  Old Tibet Tibetan Silver Turquoise Dragon Snuffbox US $299.99 |
 19th Century Silver Watch Fob of an Articulated Fish Snuff Box US $2,500.00 |  RUSSIAN STERLING SILVER GILDED NIELLO SNUFF BOX 1800S US $949.00 |
 ◆ Vintage Silver Snuff Box with Guilloché Pattern ◆ US $10.08 |  Continental Silver Enamel Snuff box London import mark for 1926 US $533.47 |
 1892 VAN BERGH SILVER BOX FOOTED SNUFF BOX ANTIQUE PILL BOX TRINKET LOVELY US $19.00 |  tibet SILVER ENGRAVE ONFOO DOG PATTERN SNUFF BOX US $.01 |
 Fine Victorian Sterling Silver Book Shape Vinaigrette Snuff Scent Box Ca1850 US $550.00 |  VINTAGE SILVER SNUFF BOX CIGARRETTE CASE CONT C1950 US $466.12 |
 SUPER STERLING SILVER CIGARETTE CARD CASE SNUFF BOX ART DECO HEAVY 114g MINT US $271.92 |  VINTAGE 925 STERLING SILVER MEXICO INLAID PILL SNUFF TRINKET BOX TP 113 US $140.00 |
 RARE ANTIQUE SNUFF PILL BOX SOLID STERLING SILVERREPOUSSE TRINKET CASE VINTAGE US $25.00 |  Antique SOLOMAN INN Silver Plated COFFIN Shaped PILL SNUFF BOX Masonic US $1,235.27 |
 ANTIQUE STUNNING SOLID SILVER GEORGIAN SNUFF BOX 1805 WILLIAM PITT VERY RARE US $189.56 |  Rare EARLY 18th Centuy SILVER SNUFF Box no reserve US $201.99 |
 Antique Sterling Silver Table Snuff Box 1896 Dutch Made English Import Hmk US $504.99 |  Nice Georgian English Silver Snuff Box Birmingham John Shaw George III US $302.99 |
 Antique English Silver Snuff Box Nathaniel Mills Birmingham Gun Dog Picture US $1,079.89 |  Antique English Silver Snuff Box Edward Smith Birmingham c1832 US $536.06 |
 AN ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER ENGLISH SNUFF BOX US $20.50 |  Horn or Celluloid Tobacco Snuff Cigarette Box Inlaid Silver and Gold Vintage US $250.00 |
 SOLID SILVER ENAMELED GOLFER PICTURE PILL SNUFF BOX US $90.12 |  Ceres liberty girl silver coin snuff opium pill box dollar size smuggler 1850 US $510.00 |
 ANTIQUE EUROPEAN SILVER ENAMEL SNUFF PILL BOX REAL OPAL US $1,249.00 |  800 European Silver Repousee Pill Snuff Box 22 Oz US $99.99 |
 Old Tibetan Silver Turquoise Embeded Flower Snuffbox US $299.99 |  ANTIQUE sterling silver snuff box with makers signature KB US $.99 |
 Old Tibet Tibetan Silver Red Coral Dragon Snuffbox US $199.99 |  VIntage Snuff or Pill Box Marked 297f 800 Silver US $39.99 |
 Vintage Unsigned Native American Sterling Silver Etched Design Pill Snuff Box US $39.99 |  Old Chinese metal silver snuff box 511 US $12.00 |
 ART NOUVEAU STERLING SILVER SNUFF BOX 1899 US $403.36 |  Silver Snuff Box Pill Box US $5.00 |
 Snuff Box Pill Box Silver US $80.00 |  1906 HALLMARKED CHESTER SILVER TABLE SNUFF BOX 79g US $231.52 |
 Antique imperial Russian silver Snuff box US $495.00 |  Russia 1993 ANTIQUE SILVER SNUFF BOX MNH SC 6144 48 US $1.31 |
 Lk Fantastic Antique Sterling SILVER Gilt Ribbon Bow Plants Snuff Pill Box US $59.99 |  LOVELY VINTAGE SILVER AGATE SNUFF BOX US $302.91 |
 Silver Compact Pill Snuff Trinket Vitamin Med Box Case US $119.00 |  VINTAGE GUILLOCHE ENAMEL STERLING SILVER PILL SNUFF BOX US $103.00 |
 ANTIQUE EARLY 1800S SOLID SILVER SNUFF BOX TOBACCO BOX NICE ENGRAVINGS US $100.00 |  Antique Silver Snuff Box Glass Liner Hallmarked Dutch Theme Repousse US $19.99 |
 Antique Victorian Sterling Silver 925 Pill Box Snuff Ring Size 65 US $18.39 |  ANTIQUE GEORGIAN STERLING SILVER GUILT SNUFF BOX THOMAS WILLMORE 1801 US $37.00 |
 ASIAN TIBETAN SILVER HANDWORK FLOWER OLD SNUFF BOX PENDANT ★★★★★ US $1.86 |  Antique Victorian Chinese French Solid Coral Silver Inlaid Patch Snuff Box c1850 US $795.00 |
 ART DECO Silver Gold Snuff BOX Unique US $320.00 |  Early Victorian sterling silver vesta snuff box antique match safe family crest US $168.91 |
