A gold snuff box

Nicolas Huguet, Paris bear's head 3e titre, Paris titre et garantie for 1798-1809, the rim engraved for the retailer: Marguerite/ Joaillier de la Couronne de leurs Maj[es]tés Imp[eria]les et/  Roy[a]les



rectangular, the lid applied with monogram: AL, on plaid engine-turning within cut leaf borders, the sides and base similarly decorated

Nicolas Huguet became master by formule imprimée from the quai des Morfondus on 27 June 1787, sponsored by Jacques-François Varin. This mark for ‘le gros bijou’ was registered in 1798/9 from 24 quai des Orfèvres and he is recorded at this address until 1816.

In competition with Nitot, Bernard-Armand Marguerite was one of the leading Imperial jewellers and goldsmiths, working from the sign of the “Vase d’or” at 127, then 177 rue St-Honoré.  From 1806, he delivered 100 gold boxes to Napoleon and Josephine decorated with the Imperial cipher or portrait, for official presents. He was supplied by a number of boxmakers including Huguet and Etienne-Lucien Blerzy.