BY GEORGES RÉMOND & COMPAGNIE (FL. 1783-CIRCA 1820), MARKED, GENEVA, 1805-1815

The twin princesses were born 27 January 1805. Princess Sophie Friederike Dorothee (1805-1872) married Archduke Franz Karl of Austria, mother of Franz Joseph I of Austria and Maximilian I of Mexico. Princess Marie Anne Leopoldine (1805-1877) married Frederick Augustus II of Saxony. The box is the work of one of Geneva's most celebrated box-makers, Jean-Georges Rémond, renowned "monteur de boîtes en or" or maker of gold cases. In 1790 he founded Georges Rémond & Cie., excelling in elaborate gold cases for watches and snuff boxes, often destined for the export to the Orient. During the French occupation of Switzerland (1798-1815) by Napoléon, J.-G. Rémond’s recorded marks were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman. During this time his initials appear within a lozenge. The English Garden is a large public park in the centre of Munich, Bavaria, stretching from the city centre to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814). The name refers to its English garden form of informal landscape, a style popular in Britain from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century and particularly associated with Capability Brown.