Napoleon’s hat auctioned for US$2.2m
Print Edition
ONE of Napoleon’s famous two-pointed hats was bought by a South Korean collector for 1.8 million euros (US$2.2 million) outside Paris yesterday, France’s Osenat auction house said.
The black felted beaver fur “bicorne” hat is one of only 19 examples left of the French emperor’s unusual headwear, and was sold by Monaco’s Grimaldi family.
The hat had been valued at 300,000-400,000 euros before the auction, according to Napoleon memorabilia watchers.
During his reign as French emperor — from 1804-1814 and again in 1815 — Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have worn around 120 of the hats.
Made by French hat makers Poupard, Napoleon wore them sideways — rather than with points at the front and back — so he could be easily spotted on the battlefield.
Of about 20 hats that still exist, only two or three are in private hands with the rest scattered in museums across the world.
The hat is the most emblematic item of the two-day sale at Fontainebleau on Saturday and yesterday.
Other items auctioned by Osenat include a pair of Napoleon’s stockings, a scarf and a shirt.
All come from a collection of around 1,000 pieces of Napoleon memorabilia that belonged to Prince Louis II of Monaco (1870-1949), the great grandfather of current monarch Prince Albert.
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