Silver Pocket Tobacco Box
A silver pocket tobacco box is a compact personal container made to hold tobacco securely in the pocket, combining utility with fine metalwork.
Silver Pocket Tobacco Box
A silver pocket tobacco box is a small container designed for carrying tobacco, snuff, or cigars in a pocket. The examples found here span the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods, alongside associated forms like snuff boxes and cigarette cases.
Most pieces date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, reflecting the periods when portable smoking and snuff accessories were widely produced in sterling silver, silver gilt, and solid silver.
Makers produced these objects in various regional centres across Britain, alongside continental European workshops working in similar styles.
How They Were Made
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver and silver gilt, shaping the metal through casting, planishing, and engine-turning to create rigid pocket vessels. Surface decoration relied on floral chasing, embossed scenes, and reeded designs applied directly to the metal body.
Some pieces incorporate contrasting materials, pairing silver mounts with crocodile skin leather or tortoiseshell to provide texture and visual variety.
What Varies in Quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the chased or embossed decoration and the weight of the metal utilised in the construction. Pieces with sharply defined figural scenes, deep floral chasing, or intricate engine-turning demonstrate greater skill from the silversmith.
The precision of the hinge mechanism and the tightness of the lid closure separate superior pocket containers from standard examples.
Mappin & Webb·Henry Matthews·Robert Thornton·Thomas Shaw·Edward Smith·Joseph Willmore·Sampson Mordan·Edward Edwards·William Eaton
The Silver Pocket Tobacco Box Glossary
- Sterling Silver
- An alloy of silver containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper. This standard metal composition appears frequently in British pocket containers.
- Silver Gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface. This treatment creates a warm, golden interior or exterior finish.
- Engine-Turned
- A decorative technique involving precise geometric patterns cut mechanically into the metal surface. It provides texture and reduces the visibility of fingerprints.
- Planished
- A metalworking finish achieved by hammering the surface with a polished tool to create a smooth texture with subtle facets. This technique hardens the silver while giving a distinctive matte appearance.
- Niello
- A black metallic alloy used as an inlay on engraved silver surfaces. It creates stark visual contrast against the bright metal ground.
Silver Pocket Tobacco Box: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know the date of a silver box?
British silver boxes usually carry hallmarks stamped directly into the metal. These assay marks indicate the town of origin, the fineness, and a specific date letter.
Comparing the style of decoration, such as floral chasing or engine-turning, alongside the maker's mark helps confirm the period of manufacture.
What is the difference between a tobacco box and a snuff box?
Tobacco boxes were generally made larger to accommodate pipe tobacco or rolled leaves for smoking. Snuff boxes were built smaller to hold finely ground tobacco meant for inhalation.
Both forms utilise tight hinged lids to preserve the contents and prevent spills while carried in the pocket.
Are these boxes made of solid silver?
The listings include pieces made from sterling silver, solid silver, and silver gilt. Many British items are struck with the lion passant indicating sterling standard.
Some examples also incorporate internal gilding, where a thin layer of gold covers the silver interior surfaces.