Gold Snuff Box with Portrait of Napoleon by Jean-Baptiste Isabey '1767–1855'

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About the Item

Our gold snuff box is distinguished by its exceptional portrait of Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821) by the revered miniature painter, Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767–1855), signed and dated 1807. Isabey portrays the emperor in the green uniform of the chasseurs a cheval with red sash and silver breast-star of the Imperial French Order of the Legion of Honour. Pinned to his left lapel are the badges of the Imperial French Order of the Legion of Honour and the badge of the Royal Italian Order of the Iron Crown of Lombardy. The portrait is bordered by blue enamel and an outer border of rosettes and leaves. 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 5/8 inches. Weight: 135 g, 4.76 oz, 4.34 troy oz. Hallmarks on the underside of this German-made box include an assay mark, a lion rampant and maker's mark which is heavily worn. Born in Nancy, France, Isabey arrived in Paris in 1785 to study with Jacques-Louis David. His earliest clients included the family of Eugène Rose de Beauharnais (1781 -1824). Through the marriage of his mother, Joséphine de Beauharnais, he became the stepson of Napoleon Bonaparte. He later became Napoleon's adopted son, but not the heir to the imperial throne. He commanded the Army of Italy during the Napoleonic Wars and was Viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy under his stepfather. Thereafter his most prestigious client became the emperor himself. An avid snuff-taker, Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned snuffboxes for his use and bequeathed them to his entourage in his will. On becoming Emperor in 1804, he revived the tradition of diplomatic snuffboxes, which had been popular before the French Revolution as a way to reinforce his family's newly established pre-eminence. Records show that he formed a strict hierarchy and budget for these boxes, from simple tortoiseshell to more lavish versions such as ours here. Isabey is considered one of the great masters of the early-19th-century French miniature. His works can be found in museums around the world.

Dimensions:
Height: 0.63 in (1.61 cm)Width: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Style:
Empire (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Enamel,Gold
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1807
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
New York, US
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6079232862742

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