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Antique Snuff Box Collecting

By: Tim Love

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Antique snuff box collecting is an easy and affordable hobby, because there is plenty of scope for starting an antique snuff box collection cheaply, as well as numerous places both on and offline line that can be used to source antique snuff boxes. There has never been a better time to start collecting snuff boxes.

Antique snuff boxes come in all shapes and sizes and are made from all manner of materials, including; gold, silver, copper, pewter, iron, tin, wood, bone, horn and papier-mâché. Many are inlaid with precious metal and stones; or intricately carved or engraved with beautiful patterns, that make antique snuff boxes a work of art in themselves.

Several snuff box types are very collectable and are therefore priced accordingly, but many fall within the few pounds per item bracket and can be found in car boot sales, flea markets, charity shops, as well as antique shops and of course online at dedicated web sites and auction sites such as ebay.

Historically, snuff boxes initially started as functional boxes just to keep a person’s snuff tobacco safe and dry. Most pocket snuff boxes are around 6cm long, 4cm wide and about 2cm deep. They are therefore big enough to hold around a day’s worth of snuff.

One thing holds common with snuff boxes however, that being because of their very practical build purpose; they must be snuff proof. They mustn’t leak snuff and they must keep the snuff in good condition.

It is also interesting to note, that most snuff boxes have their hinge on the outside of the box. Initially this may appear strange, but it’s not without good reason – powdered snuff is very fine and clogs hinges, therefore having the hinge on the outside ensures the lid always closes tightly and the box keeps the snuff in good condition!

Many intricate snuff boxes have been made over the last few hundred years, and as snuff was as the most common way of using tobacco in yester-year, there is an abundance of snuff boxes available to buy.

It is widely recorded that Napoleon Bonaparte used up to 7lbs of snuff per month and received as gifts many elaborate snuff boxes.

One discovered assassination attempt on Napoleon’s life was the stuff of modern spy thrillers, it involved the plotters infiltrating a group of workmen restoring Malmaison and switching Napoleon’s favoured snuff box with one laced with poison. The plan was foiled.

As a snuff user, I like to collect snuff boxes both for everyday use and for display purposes - there’s nothing like actually using an antique snuff box for storing your snuff in, knowing that the same snuff box has been used for generations and that you’re continuing to use the snuff box for the purpose that it was originally created.

However, if you’re not a snuff user do not let it put you off antique snuff box collecting, snuff boxes can be used as trinket or pill boxes instead, if you like to collect antiques that have a modern day purpose, snuff boxes can be very practical indeed.

So don’t delay, explore the wonderful world of antique snuff box collecting today.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

For further information visit www.snuffstore.co.uk

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