Circular, vari-coloured gold snuffbox
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1812
A circular, vari-coloured gold snuffbox, the cover set with a bust-length miniature of Napoleon Bonaparte, the base set with a contemporary enamel plaque under glass added later.
As a fervent snuff-taker, Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned snuffboxes for personal use, which he then bequeathed 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 this gold example.
Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier were the most prominent Swiss goldsmiths and watchmakers in the early 19th century, providing astonishing creations for the European as well as the Chinese market.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Diameter 10.3 cm; Height 3.3 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Gold, enamel, glazed miniature on ivory
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Geneva; Paris
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O156458
- Museum object number
- LOAN:GILBERT.456-2008
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.