Antique Sterling Silver Napoleon 1810 Bronze Medal Cigarette Holder ETC9795

Here is a really neat tobacco or cigarette holder made of sterling in 1896 with an 1810 bronze medal in the top of the cup. There is an HCE monogram engraved on one side of the cup. The bronze medal was made to commemorate the marriage of Napolean the 1st to Maria-Louise, Duchess of Austria. A high relief double bust of Napolean & his bride is on the top of the medal (top of lid) and the reverse side of medal has an allegorical figure of the city of Lyon, France. The medal is about 2" across and is a beautiful work of art. The incredible part of this container is that the medal looks new, apparently was well taken care of, leaving it in a high state of preservation. Marie-Louise was Napolean's second wife, known as Empress of the French and Queen of Italy, from their marriage in 1810-1814, when Napolean abdicated the throne. He was forced to abdicate and renounce his heirs' claim to any future throne of France in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. After his failed invasion of Russia, he as exiled to Elba Island. He did escape and lead a 100-day rebellion, then was finally defeated at Waterloo and exiled to St Helena, a British Island in the south Atlantic Ocean where he died in 1821. This is a fine piece of art and worthy of a loving home. There is no visible damage.