Napoleon’s hat sells for a record price in France at auction

Napoleon was renowned for wearing his bicorne hat with the tips aligned with his shoulders, as opposed to front to back, which allowed him to view the military commander during combat more easily.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat brought an astounding €1.9 million (£1.69 million) at auction in France.

A highly anticipated auction took place on Sunday, featuring an iconic piece of Napoleonic memorabilia: one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s own hats. Expected to fetch up to €600,000 (£525,000), this item was the centerpiece of industrialist Jean-Louis Noisiez’s extensive collection of Napoleonic artifacts. Auction house Osenat, overseeing the sale, described the final amount fetched by the hat as a “world record” for a hat belonging to Napoleon.

Noisiez’s collection included various other pieces linked to Napoleon, such as a silver plate looted from his carriage post his defeat at Waterloo, a wooden vanity case, and even a silver toothbrush. However, it was Napoleon’s black felt bicorne hat that garnered the most attention.

Napoleon was known for wearing his bicorne hat in a distinctive style known as en bataille, with the tips aligned with his shoulders, unlike most officers who wore theirs with points facing forwards and backwards. This style choice was not just a fashion statement but also a strategic move, making it easier for him to be identified in combat.

The hat in question has a rich history. It was initially recovered by Colonel Pierre Baillon, a quartermaster under Napoleon and one of his military comrades. After passing through various hands, it eventually became part of Mr. Noisiez’s collection until his death in 2022.

Jean-Pierre Osenat, the head of the Osenat auction house, noted the rarity and significance of such an item. He mentioned that there are about 20 authentic Napoleon hats left, with most in museums and only a handful in private collections. For enthusiasts of Napoleonic memorabilia, owning one of his hats is considered the ultimate prize.

This auction coincides with the release of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon biopic, starring Joaquin Phoenix, adding to the contemporary interest in Napoleon’s legacy.