A NAPOLÉON III JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX

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A NAPOLÉON III JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX
by Adolphe Debain, Paris, circa 1853

Rectangular gold snuff-box, the cover with translucent blue taille d'épargne enamel on an engine-turned reeded ground, decorated with trailing ivy foliage in engraved gold, and by scrolling opaque black enamel bands, the slightly incurved sides and the base similarly enamelled and engraved, the cover centered by an oval translucent blue enamelled wavy sunray guilloché plaque applied with the Imperial cypher set with rose-cut diamonds on a ground formed by two enlacing gold "L"s imitating the monogram of King Louis XV of France, above a chased gold crown set with rose-cut diamonds, the oval plaque flanked by two rose-cut diamonds, with slightly raised matching thumbpiece, the interior of the cover engraved with a dedication: "PRESENTED BY H.I.M. NAPOLEON, III. TO FRANCIS HART DYKE 1853." -- 86 mm wide

Lot Essay

The Parisian goldsmith Adolphe Debain struck his mark in 1851.
Charles-Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1808-1873) became Emperor of the French as Napoléon III in December 1852.

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