Bonapartist Seditious Nesting Box Engraved With Napoleonic Symbols, 19th Century Restoration Period

Seditious nesting box engraved with Napoleonic symbols "1814-1815 Espoir"

A rare souvenir object bearing witness to the hopes and loyalty of a Bonapartist, this set of eight engraved boxwood boxes presents a succession of symbolic motifs from Napoleonic history while preserving a certain veil, probably out of discretion during the Bourbon Restoration period, hence the name given to this type of object of "seditious". Lastly, it contains a token engraved on one side with the Emperor's profile, and on the other with an eagle surrounded by the inscription "1814 Espoir 1815".

The iconography of these small lids almost in itself forms a history of the Napoleonic epic:
On the largest lid, visible when the object is closed, a sphinx, a lion, an antique vase and a swan, which could be symbols of the Emperor's founding conquests: the sphinx of Egypt, the lion of Venice, the vase of Italy, and perhaps Josephine's swan?
On the 2nd lid comes a helmet on a cushion, as a military trophy.
Then the Légion d'honneur, created in 1802.
On the 4th, the imperial crown of the coronation of 1804, then on the 5th lid the iron crown of the Kingdom of Italy of 1805.
On the 6th, a palm crossed with a saber, another glorious military symbol.
On the 7th and final lid of the last box the monogram "BN", probably reversed to keep the discretion on Napoleon Bonaparte's name.

And finally the small engraved token which leaves no doubt and can confirm the complete reading of the cycle.


We can therefore date this object to the years following the fall of the Empire, probably belonging to a loyal Bonapartist. It can be compared with other objects of political devotion kept under cover, both royalist and Bonapartist, such as Empire-period candlesticks whose shadow forms the profile of Marie-Antoinette or Restoration-period cane knobs whose silhouette takes on the features of Napoleon's profile.

Very good overall condition, with minor damage to the inside edge of the second box.
Note the finesse of execution of these eight boxes nested perfectly into each other without any play, leaving moreover a little time to succeed in separating them!

Diameter of 5cm for the largest, and 2cm for the token.