Before the introduction of cigarettes loose tobbaco was sold, at this same time snuff was also used, this would be made from grinding tobbaco to a fine powder, this would be inhaled through the nostrels, unlike tobbaco which had to be placed in a receptical such as a pipe and then ignited before smoking. 
 
Snuff and tobbaco boxes came in all shapes and materials from the early chinese snuff bottles to very basic plain tins.
 
This is a snuff box in the form of a Victorian woman's boot. 
 
The box is in good overall condition.
 
Dimensions: 10cm long x 6cm high x 3cm wide