American Toby Jug Museum 

Napoleon & Josephine thimbles produced by Francesca China of Longton, England, circa 1985. The marriage between these two famous figures is one of the more celebrated in history. Marie-Josephe-Rose Tascher (1763-1814) was the widow of General Vicomte de Beauharnais before marrying Napoleon on March 9, 1796, just prior to his taking command of the army in Italy. She was hesitant at first to marry him because he was "silent and awkward with women, was passionate and lively, though altogether strange in all his person." In 1799 a successful coup led to the establishment of a military dictatorship with Napoleon at its head and by 1804 they had become the Emperor and Empress of France. While he was away on campaigns Josephine indulged in many affairs which could no longer be tolerated, and in 1809 their childless union was annulled. Josephine died five years later while Napoleon's lust for power led to his final downfall and retreat to St. Helena where he died in exile. Two versions of the Napoleon thimbles were made, one with a hat and one without.