What is a snuffbox and what was it used for?

Very many things that used to be familiar andfamiliar to all, now out of use. Some words denoting them are forgotten, others remain in art and artistic works, often causing confusion among people. For example, after reading a fairy tale by V. Odoyevsky, all children ask a question about what is a snuffbox? Now this thing can be found except in a museum or private collections. But even one and a half centuries ago, snuffboxes were a common object among people of different classes. They were simple and expensive and were in great demand.

What is a snuffbox for?

In the 16th century in Europe there was a fashion to smell tobacco.Not everyone could tolerate smoke from smoking, and since it was brought at that time from America in large quantities, they found another use for it. Katerina Medici, most likely, introduced fashion on tobacco sniffing. It is believed that she was sent an exotic plant for the treatment of migraine. From France, the habit spread throughout Europe. And soon in Russia it became known that such a snuffbox. After all, snuff had to be stored somewhere.

And there were little boxes with a lid,then considered a sign of nobility. They were made of expensive materials and decorated with carvings and precious stones. Already by the 18th century, the fashion for carrying snuffboxes spread throughout Europe. People treated each other with snuff, this was necessarily according to the rules of etiquette. Snuff boxes began to do different. Soon they, besides storing tobacco, began to perform other functions. Everyone knew what a snuffbox was. Indeed, at that time this thing became known and necessary.

What were the snuff boxes

1. They differed in the material from which they were made. Gold, silver, tortoiseshell, porcelain, bark, and other substances were used for their manufacture.

2. Everyone tried to have the most beautiful snuffbox.Therefore, special manufactories decorated them with carvings, precious stones, chased ornaments and miniatures. In Russia, famous for snuff boxes, decorated with views of cities.

3They had these boxes and a different form: in the form of shells, fruits, animals, baskets, envelopes or bottles. Sometimes when looking at such things it is impossible to answer the question of what a snuffbox is. Photos of these boxes characterize them as elegant works of art.

What was the snuff box used for?

The author of the tale of the boy's journey to the musicalcasket introduced modern readers with the functions that performed these boxes. After snuff boxes became widespread, they began to be used for other purposes, and not just for the storage of tobacco. They put letters, small gifts. For this, snuff boxes were made as a mail package. And for lovers of different types of tobacco there appeared caskets with several compartments. There were even those who had lids on both sides, for example, in order to treat friends with less expensive tobacco.

And at the beginning of the XIX century were spreadmusical snuffboxes - caskets in which music played after opening the lid. Often snuff boxes were given to each other, it was a sign of politeness and good tone.

The story of Odoyevsky "Town in the box"

This work has gained great popularity inits time and was highly appreciated by critics. Even now, the tale is read with interest and is included in the school curriculum. Thanks to her, modern children know what a snuffbox is. At that time, the work acquainted the little readers not so much with the object itself, as with the mechanics, because the snuffbox was musical. Therefore, the author does not focus on the main functions of this subject. It is important for him to acquaint children with the device of this mechanism. Therefore, the story "The City in the Snuffbox" has remained so popular for over a hundred years.