A very nice antique Prisoner of War snuff shoe box with hinged lid, heart and diamond inlay to lid and toe. Fine detailed carving to lid as well.Several of these type of snuff shoes were made at Sissinghurst Castle , where up to 3,000 French prisoners were incarcerated during the Seven Years' War (1756-63). The prisoners, imprisoned seamen, wrote home to their families, referring to Sissinghurst as Chateau de Sissinghurst; the name stuck. These antique snuff boxes were made to sell in the markets surrounding the prisoners, where trade between prisoner and the outside world regularly took place. The money that these prisoners made from selling their goods enabled them to buy food, gamble and in some cases save for when they were released. Late 18th century.