National Treasure - Pauline Bonapart's Empire Period Mahogany Personal Letterbox

Antique French A National Treasure - Pauline Bonaparte's (Borghe'se) Empire Period Mahogany Personal Letterbox.

FRANCOIS HONOR-GEORGES JACOB-DESMALTER

PARIS FRANCE c.1805

A Pure Treasure, this wonderful very private and personal Mahogany letterbox belonged to Pauline Borghese (Sister of Napoleon Bonaparte). It is of supreme quality and is adorned with the most excellent quality Ormolu Mounts showing the Royal Cresting of a Princess and confirming its provenance with the Napoleonic Signature Gilded Bronze Bees.
The personal letter can be posted into the box via a secret cupboard which in turn could only be opened by the Princess knowing where to find the key which is hidden, and then finding the very secret and hidden escutcheon which is the hidden amongst the fine metal decoration.

Provenance
Paulina Borghese (Nee Pauline Bonaparte)

Hotel Charost, 2 rue du Fauberg St Honore Paris ... Now in the British Embassy in Paris

Literature: The copy of the 1814 inventory (available) of the l'Hotel de la Princesse Pauline-Borghese (now British Embassy)lists a Petite boite a'lettre situated in the Antichambre.