Napoleon’s hats were characterized by their unique bicorne shape, featuring two pointed ends that added to Napoleon’s imposing presence. Made from felt and adorned with a tricolor cockade, the hat conveyed a sense of military prowess, becoming an integral part of Napoleon’s persona.
Napoleon’s letters and personal effects have long fascinated collectors since the 19th century. This was not the first of his hat collection to be sold at auction. In fact, in 2014, one of Napoleon’s hats sold for over $2 million, and in 2018, a faded and torn black hat sold at Osenat Auctions for more than $400,000.
“Just by itself, this one hat symbolizes the whole of Napoleon’s history of fifteen years that revolutionized France and changed the world," said Mr. Jean-Pierre Osenat on the occasion of the sale of this hat at Osenat Auctions. "We can like or dislike Napoleon, but no one can argue about what happened during those years that changed a country like France. So this is it, it’s here, it’s that simple.”
