La Francia vieta l'esportazione delle pistole di Napoleone poco prima dell'asta
The French Culture Ministry has issued an export ban on two pistols, belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte and intended for auction. These weapons, intended by the self-proclaimed emperor for taking his life in 1814, are of "great historical and artistic interest for the national heritage," as stated in the bulletin by the commission responsible for national treasures.
The pistols, adorned with gold and silver, were to be auctioned off on a Sunday by auction houses Osenat and Rossini in Fontainebleau, Paris, where Napoleon attempted suicide after his defeat in the French campaign. However, his servant, the Maquis de Caulaincourt, had removed the powder from the pistols, which the emperor had had made by a smith from Versailles, according to auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat to the news agency AFP.
"Napoleon then took poison. However, he had to surrender and did not die," added Osenat. The emperor gifted the pistols to his servant as a token of gratitude for Caulaincourt's loyalty. "They have been in the family's possession since then, and they have decided to part with them," said Osenat.
The pistols, housed in a valuable wooden case and bearing an engraved image of the emperor, are estimated to be worth between 1.2 and 1.5 million Euro, according to Osenat. With the issuance of the export ban, the French state has 30 months to make an offer for the pistols. The owner has the right to reject the offer. If the state does not purchase the weapons, the export ban no longer applies, and they can be sold abroad.
Memorabilia related to Napoleon are highly sought after by collectors: His famous black two-edged sword with decorations in the French national colors fetched a record sum of 1.9 million Euro at an auction in November.
After his abdication, Napoleon went into exile on the island of Elba off the coast of Italy. He soon grew bored and returned dramatically to France, but his career was finally ended when he was defeated by the British in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Six years later, he died in exile on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic.
Despite being intended for auction, the French Culture Ministry imposed an export ban on these pistols due to their significant historical and artistic value as national treasures. These pistols, which once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte and were used during his attempted suicide, could potentially fetch a high price at international auctions, given the high demand for Napoleon memorabilia. Regardless, the state now has 30 months to make a purchase offer for these pistols, renowned for their ornate design and engravings.
