{"product_id":"antique-french-wax-seal-7","title":"Antique French Napoleonic Wax Seal — Figural Napoleon Statuette, Hidden Eagle Compartment, Imperial “N” Cipher, 19th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eAmong the most extraordinary wax seals we have ever offered, this 19th century French Napoleonic piece is as much a sculpture and historical artifact as it is a desk accessory. Cast in dark oxidized silvered bronze, it takes the form of Napoleon Bonaparte himself — standing in full military uniform atop an architectural column plinth, the front of which bears the Imperial \"N\" beneath a crown within a laurel wreath: the official cipher of the Napoleonic Empire, applied to everything from royal furniture to campaign silver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece conceals a secret that rewards the curious: the lid of the column opens on a hinge to reveal a cast imperial eagle nested within the hollow interior. The eagle — Napoleon's chosen emblem, borrowed from the eagles of ancient Rome — here serves as both a private symbol and a surprise, transforming an already remarkable object into something truly theatrical. One imagines this piece on the desk of a Napoleonic loyalist, an officer, or a collector of Empire-period curiosities, lifted open with a sense of ceremony before each use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe base of the plinth is flat and blank, never engraved — meaning the seal face was never put to use, or was intended to be personalized by its owner. It remains in excellent antique condition with the beautiful deep patina that only genuine age produces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObjects of this type — Napoleonic figural seals with hidden or mechanical elements — are hard to find, sought by collectors of Napoleonica, French Empire decorative arts, antique writing instruments, and miniature bronze sculpture alike.  Measures 2\" tall. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swan Hill Home","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48914231197915,"sku":null,"price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0683\/0466\/6843\/files\/5C0440C7-AAA6-4DD5-BED1-4626272EF615.jpg?v=1782597480","url":"https:\/\/swanhillhome.com\/products\/antique-french-wax-seal-7","provider":"Swan Hill Home","version":"1.0","type":"link"}