Montcenis (possibly)

Wine coaster with ‘N’ and Imperial crown

16 x 4cm

1804-1814

Crystal

This hand blown and cut crystal bowl with engraved ‘N’ for Napoleon probably came from ‘Montcenis’ a crystal manufacture based near Le Creusot in the Saône et Loire, under the directorship of  Benjamin Francis Ladouèpe-Dufougerais. This company was in operation from 1786 to 1832, and was the main supplier of crystal to the Imperial table, having secured the support of the Empress Josephine. The French National Archives holds many ‘mémoires de fourniture’ or invoices for provision of crystal items for the Imperial palaces and for ‘re-matching of broken pieces’ (quite numerous, it seems).

The musee Compiegne has an identical item in their collection, but with the double L and crown cypher for King Louis XVIII.

Ref: La Cave de Josephine - Le vin sous l’Empire à Malmaison, page 126 item 1656