Napoleon Bonaparte's iconic hat sold at auction Sunday, fetching a history-making $2.1 million. While French auction house Osenat expected the hat to go for up to $875,328, it far surpassed that amount – and the previous record holder, a Napoleon hat sold at the same auction house for about $2 million in 2014, according to AFP.
Napoleon was a French general who was key to the French Revolution and then overthrew the French government, and ultimately becoming the emperor of France. The felt hat with its emblem the colors of the French flag – red, white and blue – dates back to the 1800s, according to Osenat.
His hat was later owned by Colonel Pierre Baillon, a military officer, who kept it in his family until the 19th century when his grandson sold it. Antiques dealer Charles Meyer sold the hat to Jean Brunon in 1928 and it was passed down in his family.
Napoleon's Famous Hat Auctioned for a High Price
A hat believed to have been worn by Emperor Napoleon I during his reign has been sold at an auction for a significant amount. The hat, which was used by Napoleon during the period when Baillon was assigned to the Emperor's Palace (1806-1815), holds historical significance. It is said that Napoleon wore the hat as he returned from the island of Elba in 1815, after being exiled there in 1814. The island of Elba, situated in the Mediterranean Sea, played a crucial role in Napoleon's life.
Napoleon was known for his distinctive style of wearing hats, often cocked to the side. According to BBC News, he was frequently seen wearing hats like the one auctioned.
The hat, one of the few remaining in existence, was described as having been through many events and symbolizing Napoleon's transformative impact on France and the world. Auctioneer Jean Pierre Osenat, in a video about the hat, mentioned that Napoleon owned around 120 hats, but only about 16 have survived and are now mainly held in private collections.
The image of Napoleon wearing this specific type of hat, with its unique sideways positioning, has become iconic when picturing Napoleon's world. The hat's sale has garnered significant attention, and CBS News has reached out to Osenat for further information.
