The lid is applied with a diamond-set cipher MC below a crown, for Maria Cristina, Queen of Sardinia, born Princess of Naples and Sicily (1779–1849). In 1807 she married Carlo Felice, Duke of the Genevois (1765–1831), later King of Sardinia. The base is enamelled with crowned accolé arms of the two kingdoms and hung with the chain of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation. There is no maker’s mark on this box, but the style of decoration and the quality of the enamelling are reminiscent of the work of the Geneva firm of J. F. Bautte & Cie. Judging by the number of such boxes decorated in blue taille d’épargne enamel that are struck with Savoy control marks, there was a significant trade between the goldsmiths of Geneva and the merchants of Turin. While the specific coat of arms on this box indicates that it was a bespoke commission, other boxes were certainly made for general sale and modified if required to satisfy the local market. In this context it is interesting to speculate whether the jewelled cipher of the queen on the present box was added in Turin, laid over the more discreet enamelled version below.

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