@ Viking: I never meant to imply that amber was a substitute for anything. Nor did I mean to imply that it was cheap or common. Mereley that it can be, and has been, made into objects such as bone and horn can be. Its texture is somewhat like plastic, and I’ve seen many intersting things carved from it. Plastic has replaced some of these things in modern times.
@ Guanxi: You’re preaching to to the choir with me. But I don’t think that the dream is all that impossible.
Im not sure what my plastic box is made of but its hard and scratch resistant. Don’t get me wrong, I love the traditional materials, I just wish there were more work a day boxes apart from slide top wooden ones and bullets. I’ve got tin, plastic and papier mache boxes in my collection that are all charming and when new would have been great ordinary boxes, but you just don’t seem to see much like them anymore.
I would love some work a day snuff boxes that won’t make me cry when lost.
@ Juxtaposer: That’s the ideal, I think. A simple, practical container, elegant in its way, true enough, but not something to which one would become overly attached. A plain brass Zippo, as it were, to invoke a cig smoker’s closest parallel.
You might like to try tins made by Robert Opie… http://www.robertopietrading.co.uk/products.asp?cat=272 The cost about £2.50 each - there are loads and loads of different designs - and they measure about 60mmx40mmx15mm - about a days worth of snuff. They are not completely airtight - but at least as good as most snuff boxes I have used. They are generally available in the UK in giflt shops and museums and the like - Robert Opie is a collector of nostalgia - and these tins feature old advertising/packaging - so are entertaining in their own right. I have now thoroughly road tested one - and found it very practical. Readily available (in UK - even on ebay). It would be good if Roderick at Toque (even had his own made! - can’t cost much - I’d certainly pay a few quid extra for some nice snuff designs on them…) or if Tim at Snuffstore bought a few so it would be available to everyone. Cheap enough you don’t mind loosing, good enough to keep snuff fresh for a day or so - nice to hold, pretty airtight - very practical When I next find them I will be buying half a dozen… Jonathan
jonathan - i was tempted to buy one of those but I wasn’t sure how well it’d hold out. It seems I should have taken the risk, damn it.
That’s pretty cool, Filek. Is it yours now?
@Filek, you will soon have another horn snuff box to add to your collection!
So will slobandtom, if I recall who won the quiz.
Nice Filek! Looks like you could just put it up to your nostril and pour it in, lol.
Wow. That’s beautiful. You must fill it with ugwayi immediatley! I remember the Icelandic story from the quiz. I’m sure there are walrus tusk snuff boxes on ebay.
Nobody is using my teeth for a snuffbox lolol. Stefan
Well, make that two. But that’s not too much to ask for, now is it?
Knowing my teeth it would drop to bits as soon as any snuff was put near it lol. Stefan
I’ve just now received a horn snuff box which must be unique, I believe. It’s a springbok horn which I’ve brought along from the Karoo. A silver smith fitted a silver, engraved cap and “toe” after shortening the horn a bit.The cap is attached to the “toe” with a silver chain. What makes it unique is that he inserted a hollow walrus tooth in the horn. The tooth is fitted with a cap, also made out of walrus tooth, with a little rubber o-ring so that it fits snuggly. To take a pinch from the “box”, the tooth is removed from the horn. On the tooth, the guy engraved a little sailing boat in black. It is so beautiful and I promise I will post some photo’s here. It cost me R700.00 which is equal to $87.50 or €72.50 or 60 British pounds.
Stefan, did you check this one?
Just popped up on the Yahoo group: SnuffBox The Nasal Snuff Club picApparantly snuff, Neftóbak, is sold in Iceland. Its even sold in plastic powder horn style dispensers! Reasearching for more info ATM.
Xander, Filek and I were looking at that a couple months ago. Any internet tobacco sales are illegal in Iceland, and it’s not sold outside of Iceland so far as I know. If anyone can get their hands of some Neftóbak I’m interested in purchasing it, but I find the prospects dubious unless we have some Icelandic members join.
We had an Icelandic member and a US residing Icelandic expatriot not long back. Niether of them mentioned it, perhaps they will come back soon. They may not sell to us individually, but they may sell to Mr. Snuff or some such place. Dave? Also, if I ever go to Iceland, I promise to bring back enough to share! The only thing I’ve found out so far is that this is a relatively new product put on the Icelandic market since snus was recently banned there. It seems many users are using it orally anyway. Its sold in snus size containers as well as powder horns.