PARIS 1833 - 1850 In its original case bearing the Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans numeral and the inscription BAPST Frères Joailliers de SAR Mgr le Duc d'Orléans on the reverse, a gold "de présent" box forming a rectangular, hinged snuffbox. It contains the Duke of Orléans' hair in a folded paper (handwritten). His monogram, crowned with old-cut diamonds, appears on the lid. The body, on the reverse and on the sides, is chased with guilloche framed by a festoon motif. Goldsmith: Alexandre-Raoul MOREL, son of snuffbox maker Gabriel-Raoul, was born in Paris in 1801. He inscribed his two hallmarks with the same difference as his father: an ear, the first in 1833 for snuffboxes and the second in 1849 for jewelry. Four boxes by this silversmith are in the Musée du Louvre collections, described and reproduced under numbers 338 to 341 in Serge GRANDJEAN's book Les tabatières du Louvre. Goldsmith's hallmarks in a rhombus, numbered 334 and guaranteed. Total gross weight: 139 g - length: 8.4 cm - width: 5.3 cm - height: 1.8 cm Case dimensions: length: 10.2 cm - width: 7.2 cm - height: 3.1 cm As early as the 17th century, it was customary to offer "present" boxes to diplomats or individuals for services rendered to the crown. Napoleon, who became First Consul, took up this practice, which was continued throughout the 19th century by successive kings and emperors.