RARE TABATIERE In chased and engine-turned gold, presented by Emperor Napoleon I to Baron Nicolas Guiot (1775-1856). The lid marked with the numeral "N" within a half-medallion of palmettes on a wickerwork background. The borders enamelled with star races and triangles forming diamonds. Signed on the inside edge of the lid "Marguerite Joaillier de la Couronne & de leurs Majestés Impériales". Marked by the master goldsmith, Etienne-Lucien Blerzy, received in 1808 Tête de bébé 2" trial hallmark (used from 1798) Marked with a cock's head with a closed beak to the right (1798-1809) 9 x 5 x 1.7 cm Gross weight: 157 g In its original red morocco case Provenance : Given by Emperor Napoleon I to Baron Nicolas Guiot (1775-1856), probably on 10 February 1812. By descent to the present owner RELATED WORKS : -A blue enamelled gold snuffbox with the numeral "N", by Blerzy for Marguerite, 9 x 5.5 x 1.5 cm, Osenat-Binoche & Giquello sale, 15 November 2014, lot no. 185 (sold for €75,000), former collection of the Princely Palace of Monaco (ill. 3). -A gold snuffbox by Marguerite with a miniature of Napoléon Bonaparte, President of the Cisalpine Republic, by Isabey, is kept at the Musées de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau (inv. MM.68.5.1). THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE ATTACHED TO THIS SNUFFBOX: -Extract from the Register of Army Births -A document signed by the Maître des Requêtes, Procureur général du Conseil du Sceau des titres dated 1st December 1809 indicating the endowment offered to Baron Guiot by the Emperor. -A document from the Grand Chancellery of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour dated 1818. -Patent dated 23 July 1835, certifying Baron Guiot's appointment to the rank of Captain. A 6-page recto/verso sheet written by Vigo Moursillon (?) Intendant Général describing the career and war record of Nicolas Guiot, first Lieutenant of Voltigeurs, then Baron of the Empire and finally Captain. Of particular note is a passage in which the Emperor, wishing to reward his soldiers after a battle with Ebelsberg, asked Colonel Couget (?) ""Bring out the bravest man in your regiment". Lieutenant Guiot was called. When the Emperor turned back the Emperor saw an officer, he said to the Colonel: "But I asked you for the bravest soldier." "Sire," replied the Colonel, "you asked me for the bravest soldier in the regiment... Here he is!" And seeing that he already had the cross on his chest, Napoleon put the one he was holding in his hand back in his pocket, saying: "I cannot, however, decorate him twice... and after a moment's reflection... "I am making him a Baron of the Empire". -An extract from Baron Guiot's birth certificate dated 21 April 1896. -The newspaper "L'Echo des Ardennes" dated 21 September 1856, in which an obituary in memory of Baron Guiot states "We cannot therefore honour too highly the memory of those men who, like Baron "Guyot", not only formed part of these heroic armies, but distinguished themselves among the bravest and most intrepid".