Boîte-tabatière

Box-tabatière Oval gold box-chased concentric circles framed by blue enamel bands decorated with flowers and leaves, the lid decorated with a miniature depicting the Emperor Napoleon I in colonel's uniform of the Foot Grenadiers of the Guard, wearing the cross of the Legion of Honor signed Isabey. The border bears the inscription "Marguerite, jeweler of the Crown and their Imperial Majesties". Paris 1798-1809 Goldsmith : Etienne-Lucien BLERZY, registered in 1806. It seems that Blerzy was employed by Marguerite because their names appear on boxes as "joalliers en titre de Napoléon Ier". 9 x 6,5 cm Gross weight : 145 g (small stain on the inside of the lid) Isabey, 1767-1865, considered as the best miniature painter of his time. See the collections of the various museums.