Napoleon’s hat auctioned for report €1.9 million in Paris

A bicorne black beaver felt hat that had belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte bought for a report €1,932,000 ($2.11 million) in Paris on Sunday.

The hat, bought on the Drouot public sale home was initially anticipated to fetch € 600,000 to 800,000. The hat, black, with the colours of the French flag — blue, white and crimson — on its insignia was beforehand owned by French businessman Jean-Louis Noisiez who handed away final 12 months. 

The public sale home, based mostly in Fontainebleau, south of Paris didn’t reveal the client of the hat. 

The report was final damaged when one other of Napoleon’s hats was bought for €1,884,000 to a South Korean businessman in 2014, an public sale home official mentioned.

What makes the hat important

 Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat instructed Reuters information company that the hat was a trademark for Napoleon, and that he owned 120 such hats in his life.

“The hat was part of the image he constructed, as Napoleon was a man of communication,” Osenat instructed Reuters. He additionally mentioned  Napoleon at all times wore the hat with the corners aligned together with his shoulders, whereas most individuals on the time wore it with the corners entrance to again.

Napoleon’s hats are a frequent look at auctions. In October 2021, a newly found hat with DNA proof that mentioned it belonged to Napoleon was auctioned at Bonhams in London.

Napoleon was a outstanding determine in the course of the French Revolution. He served as first consul, earlier than crowning himself as emperor in 1804 and main armies throughout a lot of Europe.

A brand new biopic is ready to achieve cinemas in a couple of days, with actor Joaquin Phoenix enjoying the a part of Napoleon.

tg/ab (AFP, Reuters