Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat sells for €1.9m at Paris auction

A hat that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte during his rule in 19th-century France has been successfully auctioned in Paris for €1.9 million ($2.1 million; £1.7 million). The bicorne black beaver felt hat, initially estimated to be worth between €600,000 and €800,000 (£525,850-£701,131), fetched a higher price.

The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed, “hats off” to this buyer, he’s “head and shoulders” deep in this investment, coincidentally timed with the release of “Napoleon” a historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, but I’m sure the two have no connection!

Historians emphasize the hat's significance as part of Napoleon's distinctive image; wearing it tilted to the side made him easily recognizable in battle. Over the years, he possessed approximately 120 bicorne hats, though only around 20 are believed to have survived, many now residing in private collections.

The recently auctioned hat is part of a collection of Napoleonic memorabilia amassed by an industrialist who passed away last year. Auctioneers noted that, for experts and enthusiasts, this particular hat is considered a coveted treasure.

Emperor Napoleon wore his hat with the corners parallel to his shoulders, a style known as "en bataille." This was in contrast to most of his officers, who wore their hats perpendicular to their shoulders.

Auctioneer Jean Pierre Osenat remarked, "This hat was instantly recognizable. On the battlefields, its presence signaled Napoleon's arrival. In private, he consistently wore it or held it, occasionally even casting it to the ground. It became the very image, the symbol of the emperor."

Among the other items being auctioned are a silver plate pilfered from Napoleon's carriage after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815 and a wooden vanity case owned by Napoleon. The vanity case contains razors, a silver toothbrush, scissors, and various personal belongings.