Etienne-Lucien Blerzy, Paris / the miniature school of Daniel Saint (1778-1847), inventory no. 7, punched flange no. 58574, 89 x 60 x 22 mm, circa 1808

A very fine and rare gold enamel snuff box with miniature portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte
Case: 18K gold, master's mark "ELB" (Joseph-Etienne Blerzy, Paris), French gold guarantee mark 1798-1809, Parisian second standard mark for gold 1795-1797.
Oval box, sablé ground, the lid, the sides and the base engine-turned with concentric circles, the borders and pilasters with raised flowerheads, framed by a narrow blue enamel border. The cover centred by a glazed oval miniature on bone depicting Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) facing right, wearing a green artillery uniform with golden epaulettes, blue sash and the breast-star and badge of the Imperial French Order of the Legion of Honour. Scratched signature on the right side.