The Art of Snuff
Discovered in the New World, tobacco was first introduced in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century, but only in the mid-1500s smoking quickly gained popularity. In the 17th century, a pulverized tobacco for inhaling (snuff) became a fashionable custom among the nobility and upper classes at the expense of pipe-smoking. The snuff fame spread from the French Royal Court to England, Scotland, Ireland, and throughout Europe, and even as far as Japan, China and later the Russian Empire.
Apart from large silver or wood containers (mulls), which usually stood at the table at home or at public places, a pocket snuff box, which contained several grams of powder, had become a necessity. The airtight containers that had been originally intended to protect snuff from drying, became the jewelled works of art and the symbol of opulence of the upper classes.
19th Century Swiss 18k gold snuff box, the lid set with a marquise shaped panel delicately hand painted depicting holly mother and child surrounded by an engraved laurel leaf boarder and a large boarder with ovals and arrows. Engine-turned decoration on lid, sides and base, applied with dark blue translucent enamel, within light blue boarders and navettes.
Hallmarked with crowned maker mark GGB (Guidon, Gide & Blondet Fils, Geneva, 1801-1804), enamelled by Abraham Lissignol.
Reference Number: A6413
19th Century Exceptional Swiss 18k gold snuff box, the lid hand painted with a romantic scene depicting a sleeping beauty, surrounded by a row of fresh water pearls, engine-turned decoration on lid, sides and base, applied with dark blue translucent enamel, white enamel Grecian borders, laurel leaves and urns.
Hallmarked with Maker mark MC for Marc Cellier, Geneva, tested 750+ gold standard.
Reference Number: A5745
19th Century Swiss 18k gold snuff box, the lid depicting a hand painted romantic courting scene, engine-turned decoration on lid, sides and base, applied with dark blue translucent enamel, white enamel Grecian boarders, laurel leaves and urns.
Hallmarked with gold guarantee marks (750 standard), Geneva, Maker S&D (Sene & Detailia)
Reference Number: B5189
The best craftsmen, jewellers and artisans made splendid snuff boxes out of silver, gold, white-metal, mineral stones and wood. Such fancy materials as mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise-shell, mammoth tooth were also widely used for the creation of this fashionable accessory.
In 18th century Europe, Parisian jewellers led in the production of luxury tabatières (snuff boxes in French). Jean Ducrollay, Joseph Etienne Blerzy, Jean-Marie Teron were the important goldsmiths of the industry before the Revolution. Paintings in grisaille on enamelled panels were set on the 18K gold and silver boxes, that were richly encrusted with precious stones. The decoration was usually complemented with borders of pearls or floral motifs.
During Napoleon’s time, the demand for precious boxes started to decline amongst the public. The boxes decorated with the Emperor's portraits or Napoleon’s monogram made with diamonds began to serve as gifts for diplomatic purposes. The pieces of such masters as Nilot & Files, Ricart, Jean-Valentin Morel are some of the most outstanding examples of that period.
19th Century Swiss 18k gold & enamel snuff box, of rectangular shape with canted corners, the cover set with a finely painted classical enamel panel, depicting battle worn Roman warriors, telling of their heroics to a young Prince. Decorated with a chased oak leaf frame between chased borders of mask heads and wheat sheaves, the sides and base with similar chased panels of acanthus cornucopia, wheat sheaves and parterre within blue and white enamel stringing.
Reference Number: A6136
19th Century French jewelled gold and enamel snuff box, exceptionally fine and important, of shaped rectangular form, the lid applied with a royal crown above the cipher of Henry V de Bourbon, comte de Chambord (1820-1883), four fleur-de-lis, all set with rose-cut diamonds, blue enamel on a striped engine turned ground, the interior engraved: “Donné par Monsieur le / Comte de Chambord/ au Baron de Schwiter / 1855”.
Hallmarked French gold, Paris, year about 1854-1855, Maker’s mark for Arthur Goossens.
19th Century Swiss 18k gold & enamel snuff box made for the Ottoman market, oblong cushion shaped, the lid inset with an oval enamel panel painted in opaque and translucent enamels with an idealised historic view of the Chateau de Chillon on guilloche ground, the hinged lid decorated in gold and white taille d'épargne enamelling with flowers on a delicate rose pink ground, the sides and base similarly decorated with a trellis design resembling quilting. Hallmarked with makers mark for Bautte & Moynier.
REFERENCE NUMBER: A5172
In the 18th century, gold and silver snuff boxes were introduced to England by Huguenot masters fleeing France from persecution. The pieces of different shapes were chased in high relief, the lid of the box was usually engraved with monograms or scenery. The boxes decorated with carved inlays of mineral stones, such as agate, chalcedony and jade, were set with cagework mounts.
The most English prolific box-makers of that time are believed to be George Michael Moser, Paul de Lamerie, John Northam, George Hall.
Though German boxes got the fame mostly for the extravagantly large collection of over 1500 pieces belonging to King Frederick II of Prussia, it is particularly worth mentioning the Berlin boxes, which were known for their technically superb relief mosaics. Natural motifs were carved in coloured hard stone, ivory, pearl and coral and inlaid in panels of chrysoprase or jade.
19th Century Swiss 18k gold & enamel snuff box, of rectangular shape with canted corners, the cover set with a finely painted classical enamel oval panel, depicting a picturesque landscape, surrounded with a rope-twist boarder, the sides and base decorated with unusual geometrical patterns and floral bands along the sides on white ground.
Hallmarked with the makers mark of Francois Joanin, Geneva, gold guarantee and prestige marks, inventory number 6639.
Reference Number: C6402
19th Century Victorian 18k two-colour gold snuff box, rectangular shaped, cover and base profusely applied with acorns and oak leaves, on an engine turned ground, the interior cover with Political presentation inscription: Presented by the Conservatives of Bath...to Mr James Mulleny..., Bath January 10th 1844.
Hallmarked English Gold 18 (750 standard), London, year 1814 (T), Maker IN, comes in its original leather bound case.
Reference Number: A5837
18th Century Exceptional German 18k gold & enamel snuff box, of oval shape, the lid inset with an oval beautifully hand painted miniature depicting Marie Antoinette. She is most known for supposedly saying "Let them eat cake", She was reviled by the French public for her lavish spending. Until her death, she supported the monarchy against reforms and against the French Revolution.
Reference Number: A6121
Despite the numerous snuff box designs created for almost three centuries, the gold boxes, beautifully enamelled and set with intricately painted miniatures, formed a particular form of art. The Swiss gold boxes represented the pinnacle of it. Outstanding hand-painted enamel panels on the magnificent multicoloured gold base decorated with scrollwork and translucent enamels are exceptional objects of vertu and along with French, German and Russian examples are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
By the mid-19th Century, snuff became out of fashion and replaced by more practical options such as cigars and cigarettes, nevertheless, snuff boxes continued to be desirable presents and became the sought after objects of collecting.