French, 46 x 63 mm, 17 g, circa 1800

An extremely rare, decorative pocket watch key with cameo "Napoleon"
Case: two-coloured gold and gilt brass, large carved oval medallion of sardonyx: the front is decorated with a profile portrait of Napoleon, the back shows a dog lying under a pine-tree.

This key is made of three-layered sardonyx, which lends itself admiration to the engravers' talent. They made good use of the alternating white and red-brown stripes of sardonyx, a variety of chalcedony.