Tortoiseshell And Gold Box. Miniature By Désirée Clary.

Round box in brown tortoiseshell and finely chiseled gold frame. The lid is decorated with a very beautiful miniature of Désirée Clary (1777-1860). Désirée Clary was born on November 8, 1777 in Marseille and died in Stockholm (Sweden) on December 17, 1860. She was Princess of Pontecorvo then Queen of Sweden and Norway from 1818 to 1844. She married Jean Baptiste Bernadette in 1798, future King of Sweden under the name of Charles XIV Jean. Before that she was officially engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte on August 1, 1794 in Cuges les pins. Napoleon broke off the engagement before the wedding following his meeting with Joséphine de Beauharnais. This box is in very good condition. A very small accident should be noted on the miniature, at the level of the dress. (see photos). Period late 18th century.