A jewelled gold and enamel Imperial presentation box, Paris, Louis-François Tronquoy, circa 1853, retailed by G. Lemonnier

rectangular, the lid enamelled in translucent blue over sunray engine-turning and applied with the rose diamond cipher of Napoleon III, the four corners further applied with flower collet-set rose diamonds, the waisted sides and base engraved and decorated in blue champlevé enamel with formal scrolled ornament, maker's mark, tete de medecin grec, the front rim engraved: G. Lemonnier, Joaillier de la Couronne, Place Vendome 25, the left rim numbered: 124, in original crimson velvet case tooled with Napoleon III's cipher, the interior stamped for: G. Lemonnier / Joaillier / de la / Couronne / de S.M. la / Reine d'Espagne / 25, Place Vendome

accompanied by a copy of an Album artistique de la Reine Hortense, undated but printed by Heugel & Cie. in homage to Napoleon III. Inscribed in pencil: François Heugel No. 83 (great-grandson of the firm's founder)

According to the Heugel family tradition, the box was given to Jacques-Léopold Heugel (1815-1883), founder of the music-publishers Heugel & Cie., who published Queen Hortense's Album Artistique, a copy of which accompanies the box.
Thence by descent to the present owner.

Box in excellent condition. The stones and settings would benefit from professional cleaning. The velvet case has time-commensurate wear and one side has been repaired. The cover and spine of the book have suffeed some damage and some leaves are loose and some of the protective plate tissues are crumpled.
"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 retailer Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier was born in Rouen in 1808 and, according to Henri Vever (La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle, Paris, 1906) worked in Paris for the jeweller Bury before setting up in business on his own, moving to Place Vendôme 25 in 1853. He had benefited both from success at the London Great Exhibition in 1851 and the sustained patronage of Napoleon III, both before and after his becoming Emperor. He was appointed Crown Jeweller, creating beautiful jewels and in particular tiaras for Empress Eugénie and other royal families and nobility. The gold presentation boxes that he supplied to Napoleon III, such as the present example, were often made in the atelier of Louis-François Tronquoy, a specialist box maker, who had taken over the premises of Simon-Achille Léger at 8 rue des Prouvaires in 1827. He continued to work at the same address until 28 June 1871.

Our box was, according to the Heugel family, given to the music teacher Jacques-Léopold Heugel, who created in Paris in 1839 the Heugel music publishing house with his colleague Antoine Meissonnier. Friend with composers such as Gioacchino Rossini and d'Ambroise Thomas, Heugel published the partitions of famous pianists, illustrated by Honoré Daumier or Gustave Doré. His son Henri Heugel strengthened the publishing house, broadening the catalogue, including artists such as Charpentier, Jacques Offenbach, Rossini, Verdi or Gabriel Fauré. Heugel & Cie became then the leading publishing house for opera partitions.