A collection of items related to Napoleon Bonaparte and the Napoleonic era will be auctioned by Sotheby's in Paris on June 25th. The collection, belonging to French collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon, includes approximately 100 items.
The highlight of the auction is Napoleon's famous bicorne hat, estimated to sell for between 500,000 and 800,000 euros. This hat, made by Napoleon's official hatter, Poupard, was worn sideways, against the fashion of the time.
Other notable items include a ceremonial sword and staff used at the 1804 Notre-Dame coronation and Napoleon's personal gold and ebony seal. The auction aims to help Chalençon repay a 10 million euro loan taken out for art purchases. Previews of the collection have been held in Hong Kong and New York.