Cheap genuine french style unused snuff boxes on ebay.

Gilliat · February 2017

For those of you interested in french snuff boxes, here is a seller in France that sells them quite reasonably:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ra-3907/Tabatiere-/_i.html?_fsub=14506089016&_sid=1313632726&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

They are all new, unused, according to the photos and the descriptions, I already grabbed 3 of them but he still has a lot to choose from.

Enjoy.

JosephJames · February 2017

Check Etsy, too. There are several French vendors there selling snuff boxes.

Gilliat · February 2017

Haven't got much luck finding anything remotely similar on etsy, and the ones resembling are quite used or even unusable. My OP was strictly related to vintage but new ( a.i. unused) boxes.

JosephJames · February 2017

I have purchased several on Etsy that I am using. Have to look closely at the photos for damage, cracks, and holes.

I suspect a vintage unused snuff box is a rare find indeed.

Gilliat · February 2017

I just got my 3 boxes from this seller, they look much better in real life than in the photos, and I can confirm they are absolutely authentic, new, with no sign of use or wear. I fact they look and feel so good that I am almost shy to put any snuff inside, hahaha. Very happy with this purchase.

50ft_trad · February 2017

Nice! I do like the look of those, but I've decided I have enough (more than enough) snuff boxes now. Although I do wish I'd had the opportunity to grab one or two a couple of years ago.

Gilliat · February 2017

For your amusement, and edification, some low quality pics in artificial lighting.

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JosephJames · February 2017

Those are VERY nice snuff boxes. Good find!

yisraeldov · February 2017

@Gilliat

I don't see the Chess Board one on his site , how did you find it ?

Do they leak at all ?

Gilliat · February 2017

@yisraeldov : they are one of a kind, of course the listing ended when I bought it, this is why it doesn't appear anymore.
( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222386732413 )
They do not leak at all, the seal is perfect, I filled one of them with some fine grind WoS and shook it vigorously in all directions, nothing is coming out.

He currently has another 30 boxes, I would buy at least other 10 of them if I would have the money, even if only for collecting, it's still incredible to me that they are so cheap, given the fact that they are unused in pristine condition.

Jscent · February 2017

Awesome just ordered one, I'm so excited as it's pretty much my very first snuff box if you dont count the plastic one i got my de kralingse in. Thanks for the heads up! ^_^

Gilliat · February 2017

I pulled the trigger on another 3 of them, due to be delivered today or tomorrow. I sincerely hope the seller doesn't post any other boxes, some are too beautiful to resist.

marco · February 2017

just picked up one [the one with coww horn]--thanks Gilliat! BTW, when did these stop being produced?? did the St Claude snuf box and briar pipes both go away or is there some residual French atisanship still going on?

Gilliat · February 2017

@marco: good that you picked that one, I was eyeballing it lately, but I am more attracted to the wooden ones. I didn't have the time to dedicate myself into researching the history of Saint-Claude woodworking tradition, and I am not very passionate about french pipes either. This particular style of snuffboxes though is something quite interesting. It seems that "The manufacturing of such a snuffbox, requires in between 60 to 80 passes (different working phases made on the same object) depending on the model." ( http://tabatieres-snuffboxes.chez-alice.fr/fabrication_tabatiere_gb.htm ) I am not even sure they were produced only in Saint Claude, as I have seen others with different inscriptions on the metalic lip thumbrest. ( LA BRETONNE, LA JURASSIENNE, etc..) anyways, my opinion is that they are at least 50 years old, maybe even 100. I sincerely doubt that they would be so cheap if produced nowadays. You cannot truly appreciate that craftmanship until you hold one in your hand.

n9inchnails · February 2017

Just ordered me a couple of these boxes, the naked lady and the fishing scene.

jbrentoniv · February 2017

The one that looks like a monstrance is awesome. No money for that though - wifey would kill me.

Gilliat · February 2017

@n9inchnails I'm glad you saved me from buying that one also. 3 of the 7 boxes in this style that I already own come with the metalic lip on the cover, and these do open/close smoother than the ones without. I think the seller still has unlisted boxes, as ke keeps puting up to 30 items, adding new ones each time he sells some.

Gilliat · February 2017

Latest arrivals:

marco · February 2017

Whoa i almost bought the "nekkid lady" it was actually my wife who said i should buy it :) i am tempted buy another of these boxes

n9inchnails · April 2017

@Hawaiian_Ryan This is where he got those boxes. I picked up a couple and they are in perfect condition, my guess is that they are from the private collection of a non-snuffing family member who passed away

JakartaBoy · April 2017

Well, I just ordered one. I lost a Patrick Collins zebra wood box the other day, my very favorite box. This should go some small way to console me.

Hawaiian_Ryan · April 2017

Thanks/Mahalos @n9inchnails for the lookout for me I appreciate it.Shaka to u :-c and Aloha.

JakartaBoy · April 2017

And here are some nice images of the one I bought:

Aamon · April 2017

How tight are these boxes? Are they more of a tabletop snuff box or would they do fine in your pocket?

n9inchnails · April 2017

They are about as snuff proof as wooden snuff boxes get and are pocket sized, you can see in the one pic that they are about 3 inches long.

A tip on how to get them open (some of them close right tight) is to wedge your finger tips under the lid then roll them up to pop the lid open

JakartaBoy · April 2017

I just ordered one more, and that's me for new snuff boxes until 2018. Before these two, I haven't bought any boxes for ages. These days, I tend to find myself using one or two boxes most of the time. But I love good woodwork, and these look beautiful.

Gilliat · April 2017

Cool, glad to see some appreciation for real snuffboxes, wood being in many ways better than metal or plastic for snuff keeping. I got 8 pieces from this seller already, but only use 2, the rest I bought just because they were too cheap judging their real value.

JakartaBoy · April 2017

@Gilliat, I'm not convinced wood is the best material for snuff boxes if you use anything other than fine, dry snuffs. But that's okay, that's my profile. Dholakia White and HDT probably make up 90% of my snuff intake. I'm buying these two for daily use, and those are probably what they will carry most of the time.

Gilliat · April 2017

Metal for example is prone to fast temperature variations, and plastic unless very good quality and density cracks or takes the smell of snuff, impossibe to get out. As long as you keep each snuffbox dedicated to a category, I do not see a better option. Not to mention the feeling of a good hard wood, skilfully processed, which no other material is able to give. I also appreciate good jewellery work and have a few nice (and too expensive) pewter, brass, and stainless steel snuffboxes, but for me still these rosewood ones seem to be the best.

Justin · April 2017

Great spot, @Gilliat - thank you! I have just pushed the button on a wood and horn one from the site.

JakartaBoy · May 2017

I received my three boxes from this vendor. They are really beautiful, maybe a little bit bigger than ideal for me, but still easily fit in the pocket. Very happy with this purchase!

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Cheap genuine french style unused snuff boxes on ebay.

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