Box with Portrait of Napoleon I
This box celebrated and commemorated Napoleon when he was still alive. As an exquisite gift box, it was manufactured from the noble elements of the era: ivory, gold, and diamonds. Materials from all over the world are thus brought together by this object. As a gift, this box followed its own trajectory, reflecting the magnificence of Napoleon's imperial project.
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Rule by Gifts: Napoleon’s Box
story by Wang Haoran, Hung Hsuan Ying, Hseuh Kai, Lo Teng Ian, Ha Man Wai.This story was created as part of a course taught by Mario Cams at the University of Macau. This exquisite box reflects the strength of France under Napoleon’s rule. Not only do the gold, diamonds, and ivory used to make the box reflect the vast resources Napoleon acquired through his imperial ambitions, the box also features a masterfully carved portrait of Napoleon on ivory by one of Europe’s most famous miniature painters, Jean-Baptiste Isabey.