What is the difference between a snuff box and a pill box?

A vintage snuff box was originally manufactured to hold dry powdered tobacco for inhalation through the nose, usually featuring a flush-fitting lid to keep the contents dry. Pill boxes are generally smaller containers made later in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries for carrying medicinal tablets.

How do I date a silver snuff box?

English silver boxes carry hallmarks stamped directly into the metal, consisting of a maker mark, assay office symbol, and a date letter that reveals the exact year of manufacture. Unmarked Continental pieces or wooden treen items rely on style, hinges, and construction methods to place them within a broad period.

Were all snuff boxes made of silver?

Makers utilised a wide variety of materials depending on utility and cost, ranging from sterling silver and solid silver to base brass, copper, and metal. Treen, walnut, ebony, mother of pearl, and enamel over copper formed alternative mediums for both pocket and table boxes.

How were table snuff boxes used?

Table snuff boxes sat in communal rooms, dining spaces, or public houses where guests and hosts offered pinches of tobacco during social gatherings. Larger wooden, brass, or cast silver table boxes remained stationary rather than travelling in a waistcoat pocket.