NAPOLEON: The Sale of the Century?

Sotheby's is calling it a 'unique opportunity to acquire a piece of French history', which may seem something of an understatement to collectors of all things Napoleonic. On 25 June, renowned collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon is selling about 100 pieces from the extraordinary collection of Napoleonic relics he has amassed over 40 years. Sotheby's is yet to publish the full catalogue for the sale, thus far offering only tantalising highlights of its contents.

But what highlights! Top of the bill, with a sale estimate of €500,000 to €800,000, is one of Napoléon's famous bicorne hats, made by his regular Parisian chapelier, Poupard et Cie. He is said to have presented the hat to General Mouton during the Battle of Essling in 1809 with the words: 'My Mouton is a lion.' There is also an ornate herald sword and stick, featuring thunderbolts and bees, carried by the Chief Herald at Napoléon's monumentally flamboyant coronation at Notre-Dame de Paris in 1804. There are more intimate items too, including stockings embroidered with Napoléon's initials; a rather luxurious looking campaign bed, and a set of baby clothes, made for the Emperor's longed-for son and heir, Napoléon II, by the Parisian lace-maker La Veuve Minette.

Perhaps most poignant of all, especially for those of us with an interest in St Helena, is the the first codicil of Napoléon’s first will, written on the island when he was increasingly pained by illness and isolation. He destroyed many similar documents, but this particular one, in his own handwriting and bearing his seal, was preserved by General Bertrand, his military companion and head of household in exile, and passed down through the Bertrand family. It comes to sale with an estimate of €300,000 to €500,000.

The lots in the sale are on view at Sotheby's in New York from 5 to 11 June and in Paris from 19 to 24 June, before the actual sale on Wednesday, 25 June: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/napoleon-une-collection-historique-pf2591

Image credit: Two small studies of Napoleon with arms folded, pen and ink, by Benjamin Robert Haydon, courtesy of the Yale British Art Centre, Paul Mellon Collection.