A remarkable collection of Napoleonic artefacts, many with connections to Monaco and the Grimaldi family, will go under the hammer at an Artcurial auction in Paris on 1st April. This extraordinary sale, titled Napoleon(s): Imperial Collections from a Great Connoisseur, brings together 370 lots from a distinguished collector in southwest France, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the grandeur of the First and Second Empires.
History buffs and admirers of Napoleon will have a field day at the Napoleon(s): Imperial Collections from a Great Connoisseur sale, hosted by the Artcurial auction house on 1st April in Paris.
A significant portion of the auctioned items originate from the former Napoleonic collection of Monaco’s Palais Princier. Prince Louis II, the great-grandfather of Prince Albert II and a military man in his own right, served with distinction in World War I, which led him to develop a penchant for military history. His devotion to the Napoleonic eras led him to amass one of the most impressive collections of imperial artefacts known, including some very rare and valuable pieces.
In 2014, the Prince’s Palace made headlines when it sold part of its Napoleonic collection, dispersing treasured relics that had once been carefully curated by Louis II. Some of those treasures found their way into the hands of the collector whose estate is now being auctioned at Artcurial, bringing these historical objects full circle.
Among the standout pieces is a historic Couronne de Rue medal, once belonging to Emperor Napoleon I. This prestigious prize was seized by Prussian forces from Napoleon’s carriages on the fateful evening of 18th June 1815, following his defeat at Waterloo. Estimated to go for between €30,000 and €50,000, the medal was part of the war spoils delivered to Prussian Field Marshal von BlĂĽcher, who later gifted it to Major-General Willem van Panhuys, the Netherlands’ representative at the battle. In the early 20th century, it was acquired by Monaco’s Prince Louis, before passing into private hands.
Another piece once owned by the House of Grimaldi is a flag of the 1st Battalion of the 111th Line Infantry Regiment bearing the motto Valor and Discipline. It carries an estimated sale price of €30,000 to €40,000.
The sale also features two grand imperial portraits from the Second Empire, painted in the style of renowned artist Franz-Xaver Winterhalter, with estimates ranging from €60,000 to €80,000, and a Lepage rifle from 1812 that belonged to the Emperor, which is expected to fetch between €50,000 and €80,000.
Before the sale, the collection will be on public exhibition in Monaco from 19th to 24th March, allowing enthusiasts to view these significant pieces in real life. The exhibition, open daily from 9.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 6.30pm at Artcurial’s Monaco base in the Monte-Carlo Palace building, will offer visitors a rare opportunity to connect with history before the gavel falls in Paris.
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Photo source: Palais Princier de Monaco via Artcurial