A gold snuff box, Darier & Galopin, Geneva, circa 1810

The firm of Darier and Galopin was formally registered in Geneva to last for a term of six years from 1 April 1807, at which date, according to the new French laws, they entered the maker's mark seen on this box, the incuse initials DG an arrow between in a horizontal lozenge. At that time, the engraver Samuel Darier was living in the rue neuve du Molard and his older compatriot in the rue de Coutance. The stated purpose of the company, which had a capital of 99,000 francs, was 'l'établissement [établissage] de l'horlogerie et bijouterie'. In the event, the company was dissolved on 5 March 1812 with Galopin in charge of the liquidation as Darier was currently absent. The two partners then registered separate marks for their individual businesses.