Busacca Gallery

From a large collection of antique metal snuff box comes this English fully etched silverplated shoe form snuff box. Measures 3" long x 7/8" wide x 1" height. Nice condition with no dents or cracks. Some wear to etched design but mostly still intact. The associated tag shown in the first pic was in the box. ANTIQUE ENGLISH ETCHED SHOE FORM METAL SNUFF BOX, DAILY TELEGRAPH EXHIBITION 1928 / Antique Snuff Box, Georgian Pewter shoe design lidded box, men's snuff, pocket snuff box, tobacco pot, ground tobacco, collectible snuff box. Snuff is a smokeless tobacco made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is inhaled or "snuffed" into the nasal cavity, delivering a swift hit of nicotine and a lasting flavoured scent (especially if flavouring has been blended with the tobacco). Traditionally, it is sniffed or inhaled lightly after a pinch of snuff is either placed onto the back surface of the hand, held pinched between thumb and index finger, or held by a specially made "snuffing" device. The indigenous populations of Brazil were the first people known to have used ground tobacco as snuff. They would grind the tobacco leaves using a mortar and pestle made of rosewood, where the tobacco would also acquire a delicate aroma of the wood. The resulting snuff was then stored airtight in ornate bone bottles or tubes to preserve its flavour for later consumption. Snuff boxes are made in two sizes, ones for the pocket and communal boxes made for table use. Pocket boxes are usually made to hold a small amount of snuff for immediate consumption. High-quality boxes have tightly-sealed lids to ensure that air does not penetrate the box, although wholly air-tight boxes are a rarity. Pocket boxes are intended to keep a day or two's supply.

One of the more functional types of decorative boxes is the snuff box. Snuff boxes are made in pocket sizes – holding a few grammes for immediate consumption – and as larger, table boxes. Whilst snuff does not enjoy the popularity it once did, it is gradually re-gaining popularity due to the demonisation of smoking and snuff boxes are still made in surprising numbers. Since prolonged exposure to air causes snuff to dry out and lose its quality, pocket snuff boxes are designed to be nearly airtight containers with strong hinges, generally with enough space for only a days' worth of snuff. Other popular materials used in making these boxes include: Tortoise-shell, a favorite material owing to its satin lustre; Mother-of-pearl, which was kept in its natural iridescent state, or gilded, or used together with silver; and Boxes made from exotic materials such as cowrie shells, enriched with enamels or set with diamonds or other precious stones. The lids were often adorned with a portrait, a classical vignette, portrait miniature, hardstone inlays, or micromosaic panel. Some of the most expensive just used subtly different colours of gold. Perhaps the most widely used semi-precious metal was silver and snuffs of all shapes and sizes were made in that metal during snuff's great popularity.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decorative_box#Snuff_box

A decorative box is a form of packaging that is generally more than just functional, but also intended to be decorative and artistic. Many such boxes are used for promotional packaging, both commercially and privately. Historical objects are usually called caskets if larger than a few inches in more than one dimension, with only smaller ones called boxes.