Snuff box, carved wood, England, 1840-1880

Snuff, or powdered tobacco, was widely popular throughout Europe from the 17th century. Sniffed from the back of the hand, from pinched fingers or from a spoon, snuff was enjoyed on social occasions and would be placed on the table or passed around a group. Thousands of small portable boxes to contain the powder, were made as personal accessories, often in novel designs, to be given as gifts.

Shoe and boot shaped snuff boxes were made throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Shoes have long been associated with love and marriage and were often given for good luck. This carved wooden snuff box is in the shape of a much earlier shoe than most produced in this period. The sloping heel, square buckle and upturned toe are all features of footwear from the 1700s. The fine carving depicts foliage and a figure standing astride the front of the shoe. Unusually, the lid of the box is placed on top, rather than hinged or sliding, suggesting that this may have functioned as a table piece rather than as a personal accessory. The lid, which is made of mahogany, unlike the main body of the box, may be a later replacement. Snuff box of carved wood in the shape of a shoe.