Tabatière en or de quatre couleurs, Hanau, vers 1835-1840

rectangulaire, le couvercle, à fond guilloché, ciselé d'un bouquet de fleurs et feuilles de plusieurs couleurs sur un fond sablé en son centre et aux coins, la bâte également guillochée et bordée de frises sur fond sablé, poinçon de maître IB in an oval et poinçon de la ville de Hanau, accompagnée d'une lettre expliquant la provenance et d'une photographie sur émail de Giulio Alary

rectangular, the engine-turned lid centred with a chased flower spray on a sablé ground echoed at each corner and on the base, the sides also engine-turned within sablé borders, maker's mark IB in an oval and Hanau town mark, accompanied by a letter of provenance and a photograph on enamel of Giulio Alary

Selon la tradition familiale, offerte par Napoléon III à Jules (Giulio) Alary (1814-1891);
Héritée par son gendre Wilhelm Behaghel;
Par descendance

crisp and delicate chasing, hinge with very minute damage to left back corner which implies that the box does not close perfectly, overall good condition,
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The letter in German reads as follows [in translation]:
'My father, Hofrat [court counsellor] Professor Dr. phil. Wilhelm Behaghel, who died at the age of 86 in 1920, told me and later on also my wife that the golden cigarette box was a present of Emperor Napoleon III to the Music Director of the Imperial court, Giulio Alary, born in Italy, who was very much favoured by the Emperor and often received precious presents. Therefore, one day the box which was made by a Parisian goldsmith, was given to Alary by the Emperor who was also friends with him.
This is how my father received the box: after he worked for three years as tutor of the sons of the Duke of Hamilton in England, in 1859 he commenced to do the same with the sons of the French minister of education, Fortoul, in Paris. Here, he made acquaintance with Alary’s daughter, named Julia, who was 22 at that time. They married in 1862. Alary, who was really fond of the cigarette case decided to rather bequeath it to his son-in-law than to his own son who – according to his father - was very careless.
Alary died at the age of 75 after having composed a requiem for his daughter Julia who passed away in 1881. He dedicated this requiem, which still exists, to his son-in-law.
My father and Julia Alary had two sons who both died before their mother. When my father married for another time I was the only child and therefore inherited the cigarette case.
The attached photographic locket depicts Giulio Alary wearing the ceremonial uniform/dress which was common at the court of Napoleon III.
Dr. Wilhelm Behaghel / Studienrat [teacher] / Bremen Vegesack / Wilhelm-Hartmann-Str. 5A'

Giulio or Jules Alary (1814-1891) was an Italian musician and composer born in Mantova. He came to Paris in 1835 and produced a few lyric pieces for the aristocratic salons. After teaching in London, he came back to Paris and finally became successful with his opera Le Tre Nozze, in 1851. In 1855, he is known to have produced some private concerts for the comte de Morny, Napoleon III's half-brother and in 1867, he is mentioned in the Almanach as composer for the Imperial Chapel.
The marriage of his daughter Julia with Wilhelm Behaghel in 1862 is mentionned in the Parisian newspaper Le Ménestrel, which precised that his father was the councellor of the Duke of Baden and Director of the Lycée in Manheim.