A gold and enamel Napoleonic presentation snuff box, Jean-George Rémond, Geneva, circa 1790

oval, the lid applied with a pearl-framed enamel plaque depicting maidens worshipping a figure of a young soldier, perhaps symbolising the bellicose French Republic, within a pearl frame, the ground decorated with coloured paillons forming a delicate tracery of scrollwork, the base with an altar to love, on blue translucent enamel over a sunray engine-turned ground, laurel borders, the rim inscribed: 'Don de l'Empereur Napoléon au Colonel du 2e Léger (Lanciers de la Vieille Garde) de Tiecken de Terhove', first Rémond maker's mark (1783-91) between two leaves, in its original flower-tooled leather case

some losses to enamel, especially to borders of lid and to one side panel. very pretty box otherwise.
"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."

Although the box itself was created between 1783 and 1791 (and probably towards the end of that period given the martial subject of the plaque), it is probable that the presentation to Colonel de Tiecken de Terhove was made somewhat later, probably between 30 October 1810 when, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he was appointed Chef d’escadron au 2e Régiment de Chevaux-légers de la Garde Impériale and 5 July 1815 when he took honourable retirement from the French forces.. 

Two Tiecken de Terhove brothers, Michel and Rudger, originally from Flanders, had fought for France, first in the revolutionary army and then under Napoleon. The elder, Marie-Michel-Balthasar de Tiecken de Terhove (Tongres 1777-1848), to whom this box was presented, was a career soldier who fought successfully in the armies of France, the Netherlands and Belgium, rising eventually to an appointment as a lieutenant-general in the new Belgium army in 1830. His service included the disastrous Russian campaign where he is recorded as among the first to attack and the last to retire during the terrible retreat. He refused to serve under Louis XVIII and eagerly rallied under Napoleon’s flag after the escape from Elba, leading his men with legendary skill and passion at Waterloo. He was personally known to the Emperor who had always chosen him as chief of his escort. Distraught, Tiecken de Terhove followed the defeated leader after Waterloo and tried to board the Bellerophon (waiting to take Napoleon into exile) at Rochefort disguised as a sailor. He was discovered but, on the point of being expelled, he was recognised by the Emperor who raised him from his knees, embraced him and gave him a gold snuff box, recorded, perhaps erroneously, as ‘à son chiffre’. Certainly we know that Napoleon took a considerable number of snuff boxes from his own collection to St Helena which would explain why the present box was not new, or perhaps the present box had been presented on an earlier occasion.