Napoleon Collection Sells at Sotheby’s Paris for $9.6 Million

A significant collection of Napoleon Bonaparte memorabilia, assembled over four decades by French antiques collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon, was auctioned in Paris, grossing over $10 million, surpassing Sotheby's initial estimates. The auction featured more than 110 items, including iconic pieces such as Napoleon's bicorne hat, paintings, imperial furniture, his first will from exile on Saint Helena, the sword and staff used in his 1804 coronation, and a copy of his marriage certificate to Josephine. Several pieces sold well above their estimates, with a portrait by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse fetching around $1 million, and a fragment of Napoleon's will selling for over $550,000. The auction drew international attention and institutional interest, with many lots selling above high estimates, reflecting the enduring fascination with Napoleon's life and legacy. Sotheby's described the event as one of the most significant Napoleonic material offerings ever, highlighting the vivid historical narrative embodied in the collection. This sale follows closely on the heels of another high-profile auction in May, where one of Napoleon's sabres sold for €4.6 million, nearing record prices for Napoleonic artifacts.