The iconic bicorn hat worn by Napoleon Bonaparte is up for vendue , along with around 1000 other items link up with the notable Gallic general . The sale is being heldNovember 15 and 16 in Fontainebleau , and is put on by the purple category of Monaco , who are distantly related to Napoleon .
“ Due to necessary reclamation of the Palais de Monaco , which will raise our cultural heritage , I prefer to give a new letting of liveliness to this collecting of objects and keepsake , by organise a visible and grouped auction , rather than to see them rest in the shadows , ” Prince Albert II wrote in the catalog of particular being auction , the entirety of which is projected to betray for between 4 million and 5 million euros ( $ 6.2 million ) .
The hat alone is expected to fetch 500,000 euros ( $ 623,000 ) due to the rarity of such an point . Jean - Pierre Osenat , point of theauction house , said that only 19 of Napoleon ’s 120 bicornuous hats have live , and only two of those are in private hands . This special one was give to Napoleon ’s cavalry veterinarian as a gift from the general himself ( before his frustration at Waterloo ) , and from there was sold by the vet ’s descendants to Prince Albert ’s great - grandfather , Louis II . The last clip one of Napoleon ’s bicorns went up for auction was 1968 .
Also up for vendue along with the hat will be the embroidered slippers that Napoleon ’s son was baptize in , gloves give in his private instructor after the Waterloo battle , a Russian caviare spoon , a bronze bird of Jove that once light atop a battle flag , and tons of smaller items such as medals , decorative keys , documents and even strands of Napoleon ’s hair . But the standout is clearly the lid , which most people wear out with the corner to the front and back . Napoleon , on the other hand , wore the hat sideways . " He did this to make himself bear out and be easily identified , " Osenat pronounce . " There are not that many diachronic people who can be identified by a individual detail . "
