During some antiquing in Lancaster County, PA (Amish Country) today, I came across an old wooden snuffbox that appears to be from the same maker as another snuffbox I purchased from a member of this forum a year or two ago. It was advertised as having Ivory in the inlay, but I cannot say if this is true or not (though if it is, the entire inlay, aside from the silver and mother of pearl pieces, is a thin layer of ivory). Both snuffboxes say “LA SAN-CLAUDIENNE -DEPOSEE-”. The new one says “Made in France” on the inside of the lid, but my other one does not. I have seen some information about such snuffboxes on older threads here, but any information would be greatly appreciated. Here is a picture of the new box:
Here is a picture of the box I already had:
Here is a picture of the text:
Nice find! I like the picture on it.
The picture on the box is called a monstrance. It is used in the Roman Catholic liturgy to display a “host” or unleavened bread wafer which they use in their sacrament of comunion. It is possible your “snuff box” started life as a box in which to transport comunion hosts or maybe the French are just partial to ecclesiastic motifs on their snuff boxes . It does look like a top notch snuff box.
Thanks for shedding some light on the picture, Nachman. I don’t think a communion wafer of any sort would fit in this box. It’s about 1 3/4" X 3" X 3/4". Does anyone else have any snuffboxes by this maker they would like to share pictures of? ~Ken
There are several snuff boxes by that maker pictured on the internet.
Yep, I have seen a couple. No two seem to be the same, though. I have seen three or four like mine, but they all have differences. I think that is really neat. ~Ken
@ Snuffy: they are beautiful snuffboxes. I need to get out that way someday soon. Have you had any experience with the Amish taking snuff?
I’ve had contact with quite a few families of Amish in NW Ohio and Mercer County, Indiana a few years ago when I was into chickens still. They were real Amish, no gas engines, generators, etc. When I first met them, almost every man smoked a pipe, almost all of them were Falcons with the apple shaped screw on bowl. The family I knew bought only Stokers pipe tobacco, the variety being “Plantation” by the pound. Over the course of 10 years, for some reason, almost all the men excepting the older, quit smoking pipes. Strange. Never saw snuff, ever, or heard talk of it. But maybe there are different sects that do indulge? Nice boxes, Snuffy!
Very nice indeed.
I’ve seen some snuffboxes like those on eBay, but none were in as good a condition. Nice score!
Very Nice… now, what snuff is going in it first? Or will any ever see the box?
I’m not even sure what snuff I am going to fill it with first. Perhaps Rooster or FUBAR Grunt. As I am primarily a bullet-guy, these are snuffs that I cannot use in my normal fashion. If I always used a snuffbox, it would definitely be McChrystals’ O&G. ~Ken
@ Bart: That sounds similar to the Amish here. There are a good few in the rural parts of Delmarva, but Lancaster Co., PA is their heartland. There are several sects, inlcuding Mennonites. Either/or, they travel into the populous areas (like here, or Philly & its suburbs) to sell at farmers’ markets. Most of the older men smoked pipes, but few of the younger ones, that I saw anyway. Snuff seems a natural fit for them, due to its simplity and their heritage. I guess I need to just befriend a few of them to find out.
I have seen Amish use scrap tobacco chew but never snuff.
ive just bought one, bjut yours are literally 2 of the nicest of this type ive ever seen
Here’s one I found at the weekly swap meet at local fairgrounds. Tried to find out status of persons name on it. Only found three possible descendants with that last name and all are aged from 71-86 years old and all live in the Oklahoma area. 
The name printed on it is Lorenz Kiespert
Just ordered two boxes from this same manufacturer, from St. Claude.
By the way, if you want great boxes, check out the French eBay.
R