Rare seditious box made of molded pressed wood, finely decorated with a scene depicting the solemn funeral procession accompanying the coffin of Napoleon I on Saint Helena, beneath the inscription "Il vivra toujours" - “He will live forever.” The reverse is adorned with a delicate pattern of stars.
The interior is lined and conceals, beneath the screw-mounted base, a finely rendered image of the Emperor standing before military regalia, evoking the power, military glory, and grandeur of France during his reign.
Remarkably, this hidden image is completely imperceptible when the box is assembled, as the different elements are precisely fitted together.
These so-called “seditious boxes” occupied a fascinating place in the political and cultural history of the Restoration. Often disguised as innocent everyday objects or cherished collector's pieces, they could conceal discreet political messages expressing Bonapartist sympathies and opposition to the restored Bourbon monarchy. Pro-Napoleonic boxes...
Category
Early 19th Century Restauration Antique French Decorative Boxes