Iconic Hat Worn by Napoleon Bonaparte Headed to Auction in Paris

A hat that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte during his reign over the French empire in the 19th century will be up for auction in Paris. The bicorne black beaver felt hat is estimated to be worth between €600,000 and €800,000. Historians believe that this hat played a significant role in Napoleon's image, as wearing it sideways made him easily recognizable on the battlefield. Although Napoleon owned about 120 bicorne hats throughout his lifetime, only 20 are believed to still exist, with most of them being in private collections. The hat, along with other Napoleonic memorabilia, is being sold as part of a collection put together by an industrialist who passed away last year. Auctioneers consider the hat to be a highly coveted item for specialists. Napoleon wore his hat with the corns parallel to his shoulders, while most of his officers wore theirs perpendicular to their shoulders. Auctioneer Jean Pierre Osenat shared that people could easily identify the hat, a symbol of the emperor, whether it was on the battlefields or in private. The hat being auctioned has an impeccable history, remaining within the same family of Napoleon's palace quartermaster throughout the 19th century. It also features a cockade that Napoleon affixed to it in 1815 during his return to power after his exile in Elba. In addition to the hat, other items being sold include a silver plate looted from Napoleon's carriage after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815 and a wooden vanity case containing razors, a silver toothbrush, scissors, and other personal belongings owned by Napoleon.