I love a carved shoe, and especially a carved shoe shaped snuff box, but I look at a whole lot of them and mostly let them go. I purchased this and a second today on Ebay from a seller who seemed to have come into a very good small collection of them, all fine early examples-- I think this one c. late 1700s based on form and materials and compparison to related examples out there. A fairly unusual one, hand-tooled leather rather than wood, every inch (centimeter!) animated with decorative detail, including (and very much so!) the sole. My favorite of course the heart nailed out in pique (or probably more correct to call these studs, with larger heads than pique decoration) on the hinged leather lid. Quite a charmer, and the survival of these, especially one made of leather like this, always feels like a small miracle to me, too.

3 1/8" x 1 1/8" x 1 7/8" t. Very good antique condition, 200+ years old. Wear and dryness to the leather along the hinge of the lid, but it remains well attached. No losses and not fragile overall, though I would be gentle opening and closing the lid, which plugs the opening very snugly.