Napoleon Bonaparte's Hat for Sale at Auction in Paris

The famous black hat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, featuring a circular badge in the colors of the French flag, will be auctioned in Paris in November, according to the auction house "Osen" on Wednesday. Napoleon (1769-1821) wore this hat "around the middle of the Empire period," according to Belgian writer Yves Mourman, who discussed Bonaparte's hats in one of his books in 2007, as mentioned by "Osen" in a statement. Over approximately 15 years, Napoleon wore around 120 hats, some of which have been auctioned. The record for the sale of a hat belonging to Napoleon dates back to 2014 when one was sold for €1.884 million ($1.98 million) at an auction organized by "Osen" in Fontainebleau (near Paris). This piece was purchased by a businessman from South Korea and was in very good condition, having come from the private collection of the princely family of Monaco. In 2018, a hat that the auction house "Pic et Associés" claimed Napoleon wore during the Battle of Waterloo was sold for €350,000 ($367,870), including fees, at an auction held in Lyon (eastern central France). The hat being auctioned by "Osen" belonged to the collection of Jean-Louis Noisy, who passed away in 2022. The auction is scheduled to take place in Fontainebleau on November 19. This hat was made by Pierre-Cantin-Joseph Bayon, who began working in the Empire in 1806. Experts suggest that Napoleon added the circular badge to his hat while in the Mediterranean, returning from the Isle of Elba on March 1, 1815. The hat remained with his family until the end of the 19th century before being sold to various collectors. It was displayed in a museum in southeastern France from 1967 to 2002. "Osen" noted that the hat is made from felt fabric, has lost its lining, but still contains a piece of fabric designed to absorb sweat. The auction house did not indicate the estimated price at which this item will be offered.