Auction of Napoléon Bonaparte’s Belts, Swords, and Personal​ Items Fetches $2.1M

Fontainebleau, Paris, France

PARIS‌ — A faded and cracked felt bicorne hat worn ⁤by Napoléon Bonaparte sold for $2.1 million at an auction Sunday of the French emperor’s belongings.

Yes, $2.1 million.

The⁤ signature broad, black hat — one of a handful still in existence that Napoléon wore when he ruled 19th-century France ‌and waged war in Europe — was initially valued at 600,000 to 800,000 euros ($650,000-$870,000). It was the centerpiece of Sunday’s auction in Fontainebleau of memorabilia collected ‍by a French industrialist who died last year.

But the bidding quickly jumped higher ⁤and⁢ higher until Jean Pierre Osenat, president of the Osenat auction house, designated the winner

”We are at 1.5 million (euros) ​for Napoleon’s hat … for this major symbol of the Napoleonic epoch,” he said, as applause rang out​ in the auction hall. The buyer, whose identity was not released, must pay 28.8% in commissions according to Osenat, bringing the overall cost to 1.9 million euros ($2.1 million).

While other‌ officers customarily⁤ wore their bicorne hats ‌with the wings facing ⁣front to back, Napoleon wore his with the ends pointing toward his shoulders. The ​style — known as “en bataille,” or in battle — made it easier for his troops to ⁤spot their leader in combat. ​

The hat on sale was first recovered​ by Col. Pierre Baillon, a quartermaster under Napoléon, according to the auctioneers. The hat then passed through many ⁢hands before ⁤industrialist Jean-Louis Noisiez acquired it.⁣

The entrepreneur spent more than a half-century assembling his collection ⁤of Napoleonic memorabilia, firearms, swords and coins before his death in 2022.‌

The ‍sale came days ​before the release of⁢ Ridley Scott’s film⁣ ”Napoleon”⁣ with Joaquin Phoenix, which is rekindling interest in the controversial French ⁣ruler.