20-11-2023 (PARIS) A historic bicorne hat, believed to have been worn by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, fetched a staggering €1,932,000 (US$2.11 million) at the renowned Drouot auction house in Paris on Sunday.
Originally estimated to be valued between €600,000 and €800,000 (US$654,579 to US$872,772), the final price surpassed expectations and surpassed the previous record for a Napoleon hat sold at Drouot in 2014, which reached €1,884,000 (US$2.06 million), according to an official from the auction house.
Amid an atmosphere of anticipation, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat took the stage and exclaimed, “One million four hundred fifty thousand (euros) to my left, 1.5 million, we have 1.5 million in the room, 1.5 million for Napoleon’s hat. We’re leaving it at 1.5 million for this major Napoleon symbol, I’m selling for 1.5 million (before fees), no regrets, sold,” resulting in resounding applause from the attendees.
In an interview with Reuters prior to the auction, Osenat highlighted the significance of the black beaver felt hat in the iconic bicorne shape, explaining that it was a trademark accessory for Napoleon, who possessed around 120 similar hats throughout his lifetime.
“The hat was an integral part of the image he cultivated, as Napoleon was a master of communication,” Osenat expressed. He further noted that Napoleon uniquely wore the hat with the corners aligned with his shoulders, whereas most individuals of that era wore it with the corners positioned from front to back.
Auction houses regularly witness the appearance of hats purported to have been owned by Napoleon. In October 2021, Bonhams in London auctioned a newly discovered hat, accompanied by DNA evidence verifying its association with the renowned French emperor.
