Snuff box Decorative box

snuff boxes made in 2 sizes, ones pocket , communal boxes made table use. pocket boxes made hold small amount of snuff immediate consumption. high-quality boxes have tightly-sealed lids ensure air not penetrate box, although wholly air-tight boxes rarity. pocket boxes intended keep day or 2 s supply. table boxes still found in mess of old regiments - in traditional ram s head style - , communal snuff box kept in house of lords in uk parliament.

coffin-shaped snuff box made sheet copper, raised, tinned inside , engraved. english , dated 1792. victoria , albert museum, london 1 of more functional types of decorative boxes snuff box. snuff boxes made in pocket sizes - holding few grammes immediate consumption - , larger, table boxes. whilst snuff not enjoy popularity once did, gradually re-gaining popularity due demonisation of smoking , snuff boxes still made in surprising numbers. since prolonged exposure air causes snuff dry out , lose quality, pocket snuff boxes designed airtight containers strong hinges, enough space days worth of snuff only.

people of social classes used these boxes when snuff @ peak of popularity , wealthy carried variety of fancy snuff-boxes created craftsmen in metal-work, jewellers , enamellers. of these elaborately made , decorated, rich in detail , made precious or expensive materials such gold, silver , ivory , adorned artwork, gems , precious stones. boxes made poorer snuff taker more ordinary; popular , cheap boxes made in papier-mâché , potato-pulp, made durable boxes kept snuff in condition. alloys resembled gold or silver developed in 18th , 19th centuries such ersatz gold pinchbeck , silver look-alike, sheffield plate.

other popular materials used in making these boxes include:

tortoise-shell, favorite material owing satin lustre;
mother-of-pearl, kept in natural iridescent state, or gilded, or used silver; and
boxes made exotic materials such cowrie shells, enriched enamels or set diamonds or other precious stones.

the lids adorned portrait, classical vignette, portrait miniature, hardstone inlays, or micromosaic panel. of expensive used subtly different colours of gold. perhaps used semi-precious metal silver , snuffs of shapes , sizes made in metal during snuff s great popularity.

even after snuff-taking ceased general habit, practice lingered among diplomats, doctors, lawyers , other professionals members of professions smoking not possible, such miners , print workers , snuff still has considerable following, particularly amongst ex-smokers. monarchs retained habit of bestowing snuff-boxes upon ambassadors , other intermediaries form of honor. talleyrand explained, diplomatic corps found ceremonious pinch useful aid reflection in business interview. @ coronation of george iv of england, messrs. rundell , bridge, court jewellers, paid £8,205 snuff-boxes gifts foreign representatives.

today snuffboxes collected @ many levels – high-end of market being reserved gold boxes have been jewelled or have original art work on them, or boxes provenance linking them world figures, such napoleon or lord nelson. of expensive french , german 18th century examples, , record auction price german box £789,250 (about us$1.3 million), bid in 2003 @ christie s in london.

modern snuff boxes made variety of woods, pewter , plastic , manufactured in surprising numbers due, largely, snuff s resurgence amongst tobacco connoisseurs , ex-smokers.

(historical sources hugh mccausland , matoon curtis separate books both entitled snuff , snuff boxes )