Devendra Kumar
The signature broad, black bicorne hat that Napoleon Bonaparte wore during his reign in 19th-century France and his military campaigns is expected to sell for upwards of €600,000 at an auction. The hat is one of the most valuable items in the collection of industrialist Jean-Louis Noisiez, which includes a wide range of Napoleonic memorabilia. According to the auctioneers, the hat on sale was first recovered by Colonel Pierre Baillon, a quartermaster under Napoleon and one of his comrades in arms, and then passed through several hands before being acquired by Noisiez.
The hat is significant not only because of its rarity but also because of its style. Unlike other officers who wore their hats with the wings facing front to back, Napoleon wore his with the ends pointing towards his shoulders, a style known as “en battaille”, or in battle. This made it easier for his troops to spot the military general and statesman in combat. The hat is one of only four or five authentic Napoleonic hats left in collectors’ hands, making it a highly sought-after item for those who collect Napoleonic memorabilia.
Alongside the hat, other history-laden items are also up for grabs at the auction. One of these items is a silver plate looted from Napoleon’s carriage after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The plate bears an engraving saying it was taken from Napoleon’s carriage at Waterloo, and is estimated to sell for €20,000 to €30,000. Another item is a mahogany vanity case bearing Napoleon’s imperial coat of arms, which contains tools he would have needed to keep up appearances while campaigning, including a mirror, combs, tweezers, a shaving brush and other items. The estimated sale price of the vanity case is €40,000 to €60,000.
Noisiez spent over half a century assembling his collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, firearms, swords and coins before his death in 2022. The auction is being held at the Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau, south of Paris, and is expected to attract a lot of attention from collectors and history enthusiasts. As Jean-Pierre Osenat, the head of the Osenat auction house, said, “For people who are into Napoleonic souvenirs, it’s the holy grail to have a hat.”