At its peak, the Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte ruled over 750,000 square kilometers and 44 million inhabitants. Relics and artifacts from the Empire – and its Emperor – can be found throughout Europe and often make their way to the auction floor. Just last year, a pistol belonging to Napoleon was sold in France. Now, on 25 June, Sotheby’s heads to Paris to auction 112 lots associated with the Empire.
The Napoléon: Une Collection Historique includes a selection of antiques that either belonged to Napoleon himself or are deeply associated with his reign. Chief among these items is an armchair throne that was featured in one of Napoleon's Italian palaces.
Other noteworthy artifacts include a campaign bed delivered to Napoleon, one of his bicorne hats estimated between €500,000-700,000 (around US$571,000-800,000), a heraldic sword and baton used during the Emperor’s coronation, and a ring he gifted to one of his officers stationed in the Netherlands.
Lot 20 | An Empire giltwood Imperial throne armchair
Circa 1805-1815
123 x 78 x 68 cm
Provenance:
- Midwinter International Exposition, San Francisco, 1894-1895
- Late collection of M.H de Young, San Francisco
- Fine Arts Museums, San Francisco (inv. 3872)
- Christie's New York, 10 April 2018, lot 46
- Private collection
- Osenat, Fontainebleau, 7 April 2019, lot 430
Estimate: In the region of €400,000 (around US$462,000)
When Napoleon made himself Emperor of France, the country received a monarch who was intent on legitimizing his rule in the same way as the preceding kings. His crown, like those of the old kings of France, is referred to as the "Crown of Charlemagne,” while much political authority was derived from the Pope’s blessings.
The throne was no different. While there are certain symbolic and usage differences between the thrones of Napoleon and those of the kings of the ancien régime, from a design perspective, Napoleonic thrones borrow heavily from France, especially from Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. The thrones of those kings were short, rounded, highly ornate, and comfortable to sit on, unlike the tall, rectangular, and hard wooden thrones of the 16th century.
The design of this current lot is quite similar to the Louis XVI throne featured in France’s London embassy. They have about the same shape profile and a similar wood trim. The old thrones of the House of Bourbon were far more ornate and featured more interesting motifs than the Napoleon one, which only distinguishes itself with a large letter “N” in the middle with a crown and laurel wreath.
The throne of Napoleon has a few other features, like a much thicker bottom padding and a line of tassels that line the underside of the armchair throne. Interestingly, while both thrones are red, they may be red for two different reasons. In the Kingdom of France, the monarch was associated with military banners, whereas post-monarch red became associated with revolution, something that persists on the French flag today. Additionally, the patron saint of Paris, Saint Denis, is also associated with the color.
Important to note is that back when this lot was sold by the French auction house Osenat in 2019, it set the record for the most expensive Napoleon Throne ever sold at auction, coming in at €500,000 around US$571,000), with the most expensive throne ever sold belonging to the Game of Thrones TV show.
A view of the "N" in the center of the chair, a mark of Napoleon, and that can also be seen on the chain of the Légion d'honneur Napoleon
The throne of Louis XVI featured in the French embassy in London, and that has significant similarities in look to Napoleon's throne
One of the aspects of Napoleon’s rule was his focus on legitimacy. While much of his legitimacy was derived from military conquest and his capability, he lacked the traditional legitimacy of conventional European monarchs and aristocratic families.
Without a doubt, his throne was also part of this legitimization, with its design harkening back to the old French thrones. Another step in this quest for legitimization was presence. The First French Empire annexed various areas and puppeted other nations, meaning that Napoleon acquired a vast number of palaces, all of which had an integrated throne room, which served as a projection of French power even if Napoleon himself was not in the region.
This specific armchair throne, according to experts, was most likely used by Napoleon in Turin, in what is now Northern Italy. Located previously in the Duchy of Savoy, the region as a whole bordered France and was the site of near-constant conflict and military transit before France completely annexed it in 1801. Turin itself was a key city in terms of trade and military value, with Stupinigi Palace being seized by the French government as a key site, one where Napoleon would stay.
Stupinigi Palace in Turin, where Napoleon would stay, and where this armchair throne is believed to have once been
In April of 1805, Napoleon transited through Turin and stayed at Stupinigi Palace on his way to Milan to be coronated as the King of Italy alongside his current title of Emperor of France. At the time, Stupinigi Palace had no throne, and in anticipation of Napoleon’s arrival, this needed to be rectified. Letters from staff at the time show that they based their throne on the one in Tuileries Palace, albeit with various modifications.
While the size and shape are broadly the same, the Tuileries Palace throne is a dark navy blue instead of red, and there are far more details woven into the embroidery of that throne, which is far more elaborate, with there being small flowers and other regal patterns stitched into the padding of the throne.
What happened to this throne after its alleged time in Italy is unclear. The conflicts and political shifts that raged across Europe at the time made it so that many artifacts were lost or changed hands without proper provenance or clarity. What is known is that it was found in the United States starting from 1894 onward and that an old Bonaparte loyalist may have been responsible for bringing it across the Atlantic.
Lot 50 | Marie-Jean Desouches (1764-1828) | A French Empire wrought iron "petit modèle" folding campaign bed
Circa 1807-1815
The bed and matress: 195 x 184 x 90 cm | The wooden box: 24 x 107 x 18.5 cm
Provenance:
- Probably one of the beds delivered to Napoleon, then held in the collections of général Bertrand, Grand maréchal du Palais et Surintendant de la Maison de l'Empereur
- With Robert Marchal, rue de Mirosmenil, Paris
Estimate: €40,000-60,000 (around US$46,000-69,000)
At the start of the Napoleonic Wars, armies could sometimes issue their troops with tents. As the expense of materials grew and the necessity for time-saving measures increased, the average soldier lost their tent, with a bedroll, greycoat, and a shared campfire becoming their main source of housing and comfort while on campaign.
Senior officers and the Emperor were certainly not subject to such grueling conditions. Campaign staff quarters were not uncommon, as officers moved around with whole offices coming in tow. An essential part of that staff quarter was the bed, with specific ones being designed and designated as campaign beds.
As the Emperor of France, one would imagine that Napoleon’s staff quarters and campaign beds were quite large, and indeed they were. Modern mock-up displays of Napoleon’s quarters while at war show massive tents with tables, desks, chairs, and large beds filling up the space. However, in 1807, Napoleon requested a new bed, one with improved structure, but that was also smaller.
Sources indicate that Napoleon desired a campaign quarters setup that was more mobile, required less logistical burden to move around while on the march, and most likely required less time to set up, making it more convenient. What resulted were two general bedframe designs, of which the one on sale with Sotheby’s is the smaller.
An example of one of Napoleon's larger campaign tents and beds, exhibited at the Manufacture des Gobelins, Paris, France
The campaign bed was made by Marie-Jean Desouches (1764–1828), who was born to a long line of talented blacksmiths and lockpicks. While the trade was passed down to him from his father, he was far more famous for his work on the idea of a portable camping bed. He filed numerous patents for such designs and became known in Europe as a specialist in this very specific craft, especially during the reign of Napoleon, where he earned quite a bit from his work and even met the Emperor himself.
Desouches’ son, Louis-Guillaume Desouches, wrote in a document in 1803 about his father’s invention of a folding bed, adding at the end that, “He (Marie-Jean) requested and obtained an audience with the First Consul (Napoleon) and was admitted to present his bed to him at the Château de Saint-Cloud. He appeared before Napoleon, his bedstead under his arm, and unfolded and refolded it in his presence with the greatest speed, which infinitely pleased this active genius who already governed Europe.”
This was the original Desouches campaign bed, and Napoleon was enamored with it. He brought it with him on his numerous military operations, he kept some in his residences, and he issued them to his empress, marshals, and nurses, and he even gifted one to Emperor Alexander I of Russia during the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807. Additionally, it was from this original that the 1807 request for an even smaller version came and resulted in this specific lot.
The bed's brass plate, which has the address of Desouches and the patent
In total, by 1809, across all the royal palaces of Napoleon, there were a total of 4,150 beds, with 30 for Napoleon, 64 for the princes of the Empire, 100 for senior officers, and 461 for the remaining officers. When the French Empire suffered its shattering defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and his second abdication on 22 June 1815, this time to St. Helena, he brought some of his favorite beds with him.
Here, the fate of this bed becomes a bit unclear; it is certain that at least two beds went with the Emperor to Napoleon and that he died in one of the campaign beds, both of which are in French museums. Originally, they were written in Napoleon’s will to his son, but the phrasing of the will implies that there were maybe more than two, reading, “My camp beds, which I have used in all my campaigns […] I hope that this small legacy will be dear to him as it retraces the memory of a father whose universe will sustain him.”
However, it is noted in the provenance that this bed was given to Napoleon and, at some point, was handed over to the collection of Henri Gatien Bertrand, one of Napoleon’s closest staff officers, who headed his military entourage and served as a sort of secretary and very senior administrator. Bertrand joined Napoleon in both his exiles to Elba and St. Helena, making it unclear if he received the bed before the exiles or following the Emperor’s death and Bertrand’s return to France.
Lot 49 | Poupard & Cie | An Emperor Napoleon I's bicorne
Circa 1805-1809
Provenance:
- Probably the one presented by Napoleon to General Mouton at the Battle of Essling in 1809
- By descent in the family
- Lent by the family to the musée Grévin collection
- Probably given back to one member of the Mouton family
- Donated to the current owner
- Expertised by Jean-Pierre Duchiron (1953-2011), guns and historical souvenirs expert who ceretified this hat in a valuation given to the client before 2002
Estimate: €500,000-700,000 (around US$571,000-800,000)
The bicorne is one of the most recognizable elements of Napoleon and that period of history. This distinctive sail-like headwear has been a prominent part of European military attire and can still be found in certain militaries to this day. For Napoleon, however, it was a distinctive piece of his uniform, which was compounded by the fact that while most French officers wore their bicornes perpendicular to their shoulders, Napoleon wore his parallel to his shoulders.
The bicorne was also an item popularized by the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, as before them, the tricorne was what was in vogue. The bicorne started gaining popularity in the 1790s, with it originally being worn parallel to the shoulders. However, over time, the peaks of the hats became shorter and less pronounced, meaning that most switched to wearing them perpendicular to the shoulders, with Napoleon being an exception.
Bicornes stayed in vogue with many European militaries, with them being essential parts of formal uniforms. Even until the Second World War, many senior naval officers wore bicornes. As for Napoleon, he liked the bicorne and maintained a full set of 12 of them at all times, ordering four each year from his designated hatter, Poupart & Cie. However, he hated wearing new hats and had his valet break them in for him.
Additionally, Napoleon would sometimes gift his hats to certain individuals, a highly prestigious award not often given out. This specific hat went to General Georges Mouton (1770-1838), who served Napoleon well during the Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809).
Joseph Chabord (1786-1848) | Napoléon à Wagram (1810) | Museo Napoleonico Rome | The painting depicts the Battle of Wagram, which occurred a few days after Aspern-Essling
Born in Eastern France in 1770, Mouton joined the French Revolutionary Army in 1792. He served in various early campaigns, and by 1800, Mouton was a general. He was incredibly successful in that role, and when the French Republic became the French Empire, he further promoted and served at famous battles, including Jena and Landshut. However, it was his role at the Battle of Aspern-Essling that truly distinguished Mouton.
Fought during the War of the Fifth Coalition, it began a few days following Napoleon’s occupation of Vienna on 13 May 1809. A few days later, Napoleon crossed the Danube River, seeking to swiftly beat the Austrians in battle. However, the Austrians had the upper hand when it came to freedom of movement and outnumbered the French forces, leading to a crushing French defeat when Napoleon crossed, the first major loss he personally suffered, and which shattered notions of French invincibility.
However, for Mouton, the battle was a reputational victory; he led several aggressive assaults during the last offensive actions of the battle. His tenacity didn’t just earn him this hat, as he was made Count of Lobau and promoted to more senior positions. During Napoleon’s ill-fated invasion of Russia, Mouton was Napoleon’s aide-de-camp. He was also present during the Battle of Waterloo.
The hat was kept in Mouton's family and passed down the generations until it was gifted to the current owner in the 1990s. Since then, it has appeared in various exhibitions around the world.
Lot 13 | Versailles-Boutet manufactory (Sword only) | A herald sword and baton used during the Coronation ceremony
Circa 1804
Sword: 98 x 12 cm | Baton: 76 x 4 cm
The sword's provenance:
- Ordered to Nicolas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833) at Versailles, invoice dated 18 Brumaire an 13 in the National Archives (9 November 1804)
- Herald capitain Michel Duverdier (1758–after 1830)
- Aux Armes de France, Charles Marchal until 1982
- Biennale des Antiquaires, 1994, Bernard Croissy
- Expertised by Jean-Pierre Duchiron (1953-2011), guns and historical souvenirs expert who ceretified this sword in a valuation given to the client before 2002
The baton's provenance:
- Herald capitain Michel Duverdier (1758–after 1830)
- Binoche et Giquello, Importants souvenirs du Maréchal Ney, des ducs d’Enghien et des princes de la Moskova, 20 June 2012, lot 52
Estimate: €200,000-400,000 (around US$229,000-447,000)
When Napoleon was crowned, he allocated a massive budget of 8.5 million francs to the event and revived customs from the ancien régime, an ironic move given that the French Revolution overthrew the monarch only for its traditions and essence to remain in the government. Napoleon’s reasoning for including these customs was to legitimize his rule by giving it the same pageantry as old royal ones.
One of those elements was herald-at-arms, an officer position found in monarchies that did certain administrative duties like proclamations, conveying messages, or organizing events. Napoleon would recruit four for his coronation, with them proclaiming the news from both inside and outside Notre-Dame Cathedral. Later on, the heralds would be tasked with delivering state messages, delivering proclamations and policy to the senate, and announcing and working at events such as the Emperor’s wedding.
The four heralds were Monsieur Sallengros, Monsieur Zimmermann, Monsieur Pascal, and Monsieur Larcher, led by their chief, Monsieur Duverdier, and they all wore these specially made uniforms that were predominantly white, gold, and purple, the last one being a common sign of nobility in Europe.
Additionally, the heralds were issued swords that were especially ordered from the Versailles state arms factory on 9 November 1804, according to still surviving documents. They were made under the direction of Nicolas-Noël Boutet, a weapons maker who originally worked for Louis XVI before becoming director of the state arms manufactory under Napoleon.
The crown on the top of the baton, with several bees underneath it
As for the baton, these are traditionally carried by heralds, but unlike other similar implements used by law enforcement, they have no major practical purpose other than pageantry and signifying a high rank or some sort of importance. In the case of heralds, it served as an extension of the royal authority they were meant to represent and could be used to signal people during events, but this was uncommon even in a military context.
This baton has some unique features that differentiate it from standard French military batons. Many French military batons were flat at both ends with no special design. However, on the top end of the baton issued to the heralds was a crown, a symbol of the monarch and an extension of Napoleonic power.
Additionally, during Napoleon’s era, the eagle was a symbol of the country, and as such, various golden eagles would be inserted into the sides of the baton issued to officers. Again, the heralds were a unique case, as they had a golden bee instead, a symbol of the Emperor himself, as they signified hard work and diligence, qualities that Napoleon appreciated.
However, more importantly, they legitimized him within French history. One of France’s earliest dynasties was the Merovingians, who seized land from the Roman Empire. When one of their tombs was opened, bees were found in it; as such, Napoleon adopted this symbol as something that would tie him to the older monarchs of France, legitimizing his status, but also breaking with the much-despised Bourbons, who had been overthrown in the Revolution.
Lot 84 | Marc-Etienne Nitot | An Imperial gift from Napoleon in 1811, a gold and diamond ring
Circa 1810-1811
Provenance:
- Offered to Mr Hans de Bruyère, Nijmegen commander of the garde d’honneur à cheval by Napoléon during his visit in the ancient kingdom of Holland in September-October 1811
- By descent to his family until
- Vente Nicolay et Couturier, Paris, 11 December 1996, lot 63
Estimate: €200,000-300,000 (around US$229,000-343,000)
Quite a bit of Napoleonic France was inspired by the Romans, as Napoleon put much effort into emulating and drawing on cultural inspirations from the ancient empire. One of the traditions he picked up was that of gifting rings to individuals who showed loyalty to him. These specially designed rings often featured emblems associated with Napoleon, and one specific ring had the letter “N” with a crown in the center. Other rings had a bee or his face on them as their main symbol.
In Napoleonic France, rings that showed certain images of the Emperor or key events were often bought and sold as propaganda pieces and as ways to support the leadership. Rings such as this lot were of a higher level, as they were given out by Napoleon on a personal basis.
Napoleon would give gifts such as rings to loyal subjects who served him well, foreign dignitaries, and important people whose lands had been conquered and integrated into France. This jewelry and accessory economy was both a major business and a key part of maintaining political patronage in the wide-reaching French Empire.
This specific ring was received by General Hans de Bruyère, who was the garde d’honneur à cheval in Nijmegen, in what is in the modern-day Netherlands. Formerly known as the United Provinces, the region had been conquered by France, with it eventually being ruled by Napoleon's brother. In 1810, Napoleon and his wife passed through Nijmegen and were greeted by the city’s guard. As such, this ring was dispatched as a gift to the local commander, whose family kept it in their collection until 1996.
Other Highlighted Lots:
Lot 108 | Napoleon I | Napoléon Ier
Circa 1819
Provenance:
- Henri-Gatien, General Comte Bertrand (archives)
- Christie’s Londres, 29 novembre 1995, lot 161 A
Estimate: €500,000-800,000 (around US$571,000-915,000)
Lot 24 | Jacob Frères | A Consulat gilt-bronze mounted mahogany and burr yew dressing table
Circa 1802
140 x 128 x 61 cm
Provenance:
- Delivered circa 1802 for the château de Saint-Cloud and located in the Empress Joséphine's bedroom in 1805
- Dressing room of Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Siciles, duchesse de Berry in 1818 and 1824
- Apartments of Madame la Dauphine, Marie-Thérèse de France, duchesse d'Angoulême in 1828
- Bedroom of Queen Marie-Amélie in 1833
- Apartments of Princesses Mathilde Bonaparte or Clotide de Savoie between 1861 and 1866
- Collection Théodore Reinach (1860-1928)
- Collection Michel Ephrussi (1844-1914)
- Collection Akram Ojjeh (1918-1991)
- Sotheby's Monaco, Magnifique ensemble de meubles et objets d'art français collection Monsieur Akram Ojeh, 25 June 1979, lot 130
- Sotheby's New York, 31 October 1986, lot 76
- Sotheby’s New York, Property from the collections of Lily & Edmond J. Safra, 18 October 2011, lot 743.
Estimate: €200,000-400,000 (around US$229,000-447,000)
Lot 9 | A sleeve of the First Consul's coat
Circa 1800
59 x 21 cm
Provenance:
- Napoléon Ist (1769-1821)
- Duport, known as Chevallier, tailor to Napoleon, Year VIII
- His daughter, Philippine Chevallier, married Bourgeois
- His son, Hippolyte Bourgeois
- Sold by Hippolyte's widow in 1910 to an antique dealer in Verdun (certificate from the mayor of Arraye-et-Han, dated August 28, 1910)
- Purchased by Mr. Lecomte, antique dealer in Villemonble
- Antique dealer D. Janvier, expert at 48 rue Jacob in Paris VII
- Sub-prefect Robert Milliat (1898-1979) in 1938 (with a certificate from Mrs. Philippine Gouillet, daughter of Mrs. Hippolyte Bourgeois)
- Boucher, antique dealer on rue de Richelieu
- From which it was acquired by the current owner around 1990
- Expertised by Jean-Pierre Duchiron (1953-2011), an expert in weapons and historical memorabilia who certified this coat sleeve in an inventory for the owner before 2002
Estimate: €20,000-30,000 (around US$23,000-34,000)
Auction Details:
Auction House: Sotheby's Paris
Sale: Napoléon: Une Collection Historique
Date and Time: 25 June 2025 | 2:30 pm (Paris Local Time)
Number of Lots: 112