Without giving it a second thought, every day we use a large number of objects which we would find it hard to do without. We have carried a number of these commonplace objects with us for centuries, even though they were always subject to trends and customs. Some of the objects have become more important than ever, while others have died a silent death. For example, the snuffbox was an essential accessory in the eighteenth century, but who would walk around with one in his pocket today?