A Small 19th-Century Style Treen Coffin-Shaped Tobacco Snuff Box

A small 19th-century style coffin-shaped snuff box constructed from recycled period timbers. 

Constructed from eight small planks, the lid is attached to the carcass by way of a single brass hinge pin. A brass coffin plaque “in blank” is attached to the upper surface of the lid. The lid opens to reveal an interior void of any fittings.

All in all, a delightful piece of treen for the collector.

Historic Context

Snuff boxes were essential accessories in the 18th and 19th centuries, used to store powdered tobacco for nasal inhalation. This coffin-shaped example reflects the folk-art tradition of treenware—small domestic objects carved from wood. The use of recycled timbers and brass fittings suggests a utilitarian yet expressive approach to personal items, often gifted or carried as tokens of status or sentiment.

Coffin-shaped snuff boxes were sometimes crafted as memento mori, subtly referencing mortality while serving a practical purpose. Their whimsical form and patinated surfaces make them highly collectible among tobacciana enthusiasts and folk-art collectors.

Provenance – Unknown.

Condition – Please refer to the images. The snuff box doesn’t appear to be of any great age in itself, aside from being constructed from recycled timbers of an earlier date. The box displays well.

Size – Length 7 cm x Max Width 3.4 cm x Height 3 cm (2 3/4″ x 1 3/8″ x 1 1/8)