Artcurial’s highly anticipated auction, Napoléon(s): Imperial Collections of a Great Connoisseur, held on 1st April in Paris, has exceeded expectations, amassing over €1 million in sales and drawing the attention of collectors and institutions from around the globe. Among the standout lots were rare and historically rich items from the prestigious Grimaldi collection of Monaco, adding extra allure to an already exceptional event.

The showstopper of the day was a luxurious double-barrel hunting rifle once owned by Emperor Napoleon I. Crafted by the famed gunsmith Le Page and previously exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, the rifle sparked a dramatic seven-minute bidding battle before being sold for €177,120—well beyond its initial estimate of €50,000 to €80,000.

Several other pieces with direct ties to the Principality through the Grimaldi collection also caught the attention of bidders. Among them was a pair of elegant full-length portraits of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, attributed to the workshop of renowned artist Franz-Xaver Winterhalter. These commanding works sold for €81,344. A drawing case used by Napoleon I during his military training in Auxonne, another item of historical importance, was acquired for €31,488, far surpassing expectations.

One of the most symbolic items in the sale, a model 1804 flag from the 1st Battalion of the 111th Infantry Regiment, more than doubled its high estimate, achieving €97,088. A fragment of lambrequin from the decor of Notre-Dame Cathedral, used during Napoleon’s coronation, also found a new home for €22,304.

France’s leading cultural institutions were quick to act. The Musée du Second Empire at the Château de Compiègne exercised pre-emption rights on two pieces, while the Musée de l’Armée in Paris added a commemorative box tied to the Return of the Ashes by Prince de Joinville to its collection for €7,609.

Many of the highlights from this auction had a deeper connection to Monaco’s imperial past. Several of the Napoleonic items once belonged to Prince Louis II and were sold over a decade ago by the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. They were later acquired by a private collector, whose estate was the basis of Artcurial’s April sale. Before making their journey to the auction room in Paris, these treasured artifacts were once again displayed in Monaco, offering the public a final glimpse of their historical significance within the Principality.

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Main photo source: Artcurial