What were antique vinaigrette boxes used for?

Vinaigrettes held small sponges saturated with aromatic vinegar or smelling salts. People carried them in pockets or reticules to counter foul street smells and prevent fainting. The perforated internal grill allowed the scent to escape while keeping the damp sponge secure. These miniature containers required precise metalwork to ensure the lid sealed tightly against leaks.

How do I clean a silver snuff box?

Silver boxes require gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth to preserve the dark highlights within engraved recessed lines. Harsh chemical dips strip the aged patina that collectors value. Store them away from direct sunlight and high humidity to prevent tarnish accumulation on delicate chased surfaces. Professional advice should be sought before attempting to polish antique silver gilt.

What is the difference between a tea caddy and a trinket box?

Tea caddies were built specifically to store loose tea leaves, often incorporating tight-fitting lids or interior bulkheads to preserve dry flavours. Many Georgian and Victorian examples included locks to protect expensive imported leaves. Trinket boxes served a general domestic purpose for storing jewellery, pins, or small keepsakes on dressing tables. Their interiors lack the specialised compartments found in dedicated tea storage vessels.

How can I tell the date of a silver box?

British silver bears hallmarks that indicate the assay office, the maker's mark, and a specific date letter corresponding to the year of testing. These tiny stamps are usually located on the inner rim or base. Comparing the style of engraving and the object form helps confirm the production era when marks are rubbed or absent. Georgian pieces favor neoclassical motifs, whereas Victorian items often display heavier floral relief.

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Antique Engraved Box

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An antique engraved box brings personal history to a desk or pocket, offering intricate chased motifs on silver, wood, or ivory.

Victorian Antique Silver Castle Top Engraved Card Case. Nathaniel Mills 1843

19th century

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Victorian Antique Silver Castle Top Engraved Card Case. Nathaniel Mills 1843

From Highland Antiques Ltd

£595

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

18th century

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Antique Armenian Brass Divit Qalamdan 18th Century Signed Traveling Pen Case

From Ritas Bazaar

£700

2 MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

19th century

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Antique Silver Gilt Mounted Crystal Box Duke/duchess Coronet - French 19th Century

From Artisan Antiques

£750

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

17th century

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Early 17th Century North Italian Cypress Wood Chest of Superb Original Patina

From LVS Decorative Arts

£1,750

2 MONTHS AGO

chests

19th century

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Solid Silver Caddy 1893

From Mytton Antiques - Jerrard Nares

£580

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

1900 - 1920

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Good Quality Sterling Silver Cigarette or Trinket Box

From Piers Rankin Antique Silver

£920

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

A Relic from the Fire of the Houses of Parliament of 1834 in the Form of an Oak Snuff Box

19th century

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A Relic from the Fire of the Houses of Parliament of 1834 in the Form of an Oak Snuff Box

From Gerard Robinson Fine Art and Antiques

£575

2 MONTHS AGO

boxes

Victorian Silver Gilt Snuff Box Robert Thornton Birmingham 1876 (83g)

19th century

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Victorian Silver Gilt Snuff Box Robert Thornton Birmingham 1876 (83g)

From Queens Antiques and Collectables

£280

2 MONTHS AGO

boxes

A Gorgeous Victorian Boxed Silver Christening Set

19th century

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A Gorgeous Victorian Boxed Silver Christening Set

From Jeff Sims Antiques

£185

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

19th century

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Howell & James London - Repeater

From Its About Time

£10,950

2 MONTHS AGO

clocks

Listings feature items spanning the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods, constructed from sterling silver, silver gilt, velvet, leather, and bone.

George III Silver Gilt Snuff Box Cornelius Bland London 1795 Isle of Man Crest Manx

18th century

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George III Silver Gilt Snuff Box Cornelius Bland London 1795 Isle of Man Crest Manx

From Queens Antiques and Collectables

£550

2 MONTHS AGO

boxes

Elegant Solid Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Box 1911 Antique 118g Zimmermann

1900 - 1920

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Elegant Solid Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Box 1911 Antique 118g Zimmermann

From The Silver Squirrel

£445

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

1920 - 1940

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A Very Finely Carved Bone Memento Mori

From Gerard Robinson Fine Art and Antiques

£225

2 MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

1900 - 1920

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Continental Silver Snuff Box

From Quiet Street Antiques of Bath

£325

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

Magnificent Antique English Locking Biscuit Box by Mappin and Webb C.1880

19th century

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Magnificent Antique English Locking Biscuit Box by Mappin and Webb C.1880

From Puckerings

£750

2 MONTHS AGO

boxes

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Pill Box 1900

19th century

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Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Pill Box 1900

From Robert Bush Antiques

£275

2 MONTHS AGO

silver

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Antique Engraved Box

Victorian Antique Silver Castle Top Engraved Card Case. Nathaniel Mills 1843

Antique Armenian Brass Divit Qalamdan 18th Century Signed Traveling Pen Case

Antique Silver Gilt Mounted Crystal Box Duke/duchess Coronet - French 19th Century

Early 17th Century North Italian Cypress Wood Chest of Superb Original Patina

Solid Silver Caddy 1893

Good Quality Sterling Silver Cigarette or Trinket Box

A Relic from the Fire of the Houses of Parliament of 1834 in the Form of an Oak Snuff Box

Victorian Silver Gilt Snuff Box Robert Thornton Birmingham 1876 (83g)

A Gorgeous Victorian Boxed Silver Christening Set

Howell & James London - Repeater

George III Silver Gilt Snuff Box Cornelius Bland London 1795 Isle of Man Crest Manx

Elegant Solid Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Box 1911 Antique 118g Zimmermann

A Very Finely Carved Bone Memento Mori

Continental Silver Snuff Box

Magnificent Antique English Locking Biscuit Box by Mappin and Webb C.1880

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Pill Box 1900

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