Search 0
48,743  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 225 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
225 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1240041
FOR SALE
£130
Email Phone
Save
Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen & Brass Folk Art Snuff Box Named ‘Martha Shields’
For sale by Folk and Fable Antiques
for sale €152     $165
£130
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2026
Browse dealers 45 items
  • About Us
    Unique pieces for collectors and curious minds
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1240041
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen & Brass Folk Art Snuff Box Named ‘Martha Shields’

19th century
Description

An Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen And Brass Snuff Box, Named ‘Martha Shields’. A Piece Of Early Folk Art With A Naivety To It But With Exceptional Quality Also. It Is Quite Large In Size. The Wood Has A Lovely Rich Colour And Patina, Decorated With Geometric Lines. The Brass Lid Has Been Decorated By Hand With A Name, Framed By A Similar Geometric Design, And What Looks Like Possibly Foliage. Inside Is Remnants Of A Red Leather Lining.

Condition is good, commensurate with age and use. Structurally sound and functions well. There is a split to the wood on one edge but it doesn’t affect it structurally. It’s a strong piece.

Measures 10cm x 10cm x 2cm

Weighs 158.93 grams

Declaration

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Snuff Box to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1240041
Description
An Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen And Brass Snuff Box, Named ‘Martha Shields’. A Piece Of Early Folk Art With A Naivety To It But With Exceptional Quality Also. It Is Quite Large In Size. The Wood Has A Lovely Rich Colour And Patina, Decorated With Geometric Lines.
“
The Brass Lid Has Been Decorated By Hand With A Name, Framed By A Similar Geometric Design, And What Looks Like Possibly Foliage.
Folk and Fable Antiques

Inside Is Remnants Of A Red Leather Lining.

fig 1. An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields.
fig 1. Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen & Brass Folk Art Snuff Box Named ‘Martha Shields’

Condition is good, commensurate with age and use. Structurally sound and functions well. There is a split to the wood on one edge but it doesn’t affect it structurally. It’s a strong piece.

Measures 10cm x 10cm x 2cm

Weighs 158.93 grams

Date of Manufacture

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Snuff Box to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1240041
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2026

Unique pieces for collectors and curious minds

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Folk and Fable Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields.
1 / 10
Archive I An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields.

Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen & Brass Folk Art Snuff Box Named ‘Martha Shields’

Archive II An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View II
Archive III An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View III
Archive IV An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View IV
Archive V An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View V
Archive VI An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View VI
Archive VII An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View VII
Archive VIII An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View VIII
Archive IX An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View IX
Archive X An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields. View X
FURTHER BROWSING

Visitors also looked at these ⇣

Enlarged Archival View
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques
Telephone 07788 216610
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified Since Oct 2026
Items For Sale 45
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified
Oct 2026
For Sale
45
An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields.
Exceptional Antique Early 19th Century Treen & Brass Folk Art Snuff Box Named ‘Martha Shields’
Ref: SA1240041
An early nineteenth-century octagonal carved wooden treen snuff box featuring an engraved brass hinged lid inscribed with the name Martha Shields.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSnuff Boxes
  • Period19th century
  • StyleGeorgian Folk Art
  • MaterialHardwood, Brass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsOctagonal form, Geometric carving, Engraved nameplate, Hinged lid

This Georgian folk art treen snuff box dates from the 19th century and takes an octagonal form. Constructed from hardwood with a warm brown colour and a rich patina, the body exhibits geometric carving across the top surface alongside a split to the wood on one edge. A circular brass lid is set into the timber, secured by a hinged mechanism and decorated by hand with an engraved nameplate reading Martha Shields, which is framed by geometric engraving and foliage motifs. Inside, remnants of a red leather lining are visible. Measuring 10 cm x 10 cm x 2 cm, this pocket-sized piece sits well upon an office desk in a gentleman's library or study as a functional desk accessory or small display item. It functions smoothly and remains structurally sound for daily use.

FAQs

Treen snuff boxes are small, hand-carved wooden containers used during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to carry powdered tobacco. Often created by rural artisans, these folk art items frequently featured brass fittings, geometric carving, and personalized inscriptions.

These boxes were predominantly crafted from dense local hardwoods such as oak, fruitwood, or boxwood, combined with metal components like brass or pewter for hinges and engraved presentation plates.

Authentic pieces exhibit natural surface wear, uneven hand-carving marks, historical oxidation on brass components, and an authentic patina on the wood created from decades of handling.

Small folk art boxes make excellent accent curios when layered on a stack of books on an office desk, displayed inside a glass cloche, or arranged within a dedicated cabinet of curiosities.

Keep the wood away from moisture and direct heat sources, applying a clear beeswax polish periodically to maintain hydration. Avoid abrasive chemical polishes on the brass to preserve its natural aged patina.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories