Napoleon's hat sold at auction for almost two million euros
A felt hat belonging to former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte has been sold at auction in France. The hat was purchased for 1.932 million euros at the auction of the Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau near Paris on Sunday. According to Osenat, this is a world record for a hat belonging to the ruler, as the auction house announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Après une longue bataille d'enchères, le chapeau de l'empereur Napoléon Ier a trouvé preneur pour 1 932 000 €, lors de la dispersion de la Collection Jean Louis Noisiez cet après-midi à Fontainebleau 🙌
Il s'agit d'un record mondial pour un chapeau de Napoléon Ier ! pic.twitter.com/CkUbwpQyYj
— Osenat (@OsenatSVV) November 19, 2023
A strand of the emperor's hair and a handkerchief were among the items offered by a collector. Other items on offer included gloves and a shirt that Napoleon is said to have worn on the island of Saint Helena.
In France, there is still a certain admiration for the former ruler Napoleon. Some see him as a reformer and founder of important institutions. However, critics accuse him of authoritarian rule and the restoration of slavery in the colonies in 1802.
Born in Corsica, he died in exile on the Atlantic island of Saint Helena in 1821 at the age of 51.
The sale of Napoleon's hat at auction broke a historical record, surpassing previous prices for similar items. This particular hat, a cherished piece of Napoleonic history, is now in the possession of a private collector.
Source: www.dpa.com
