Auction Before Release of Film Napoleon
Winner’s Identity Remains Unknown
AP and Reuters report that an auction in France on November 19th sold a bicorne hat from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) for 1.932 million euros (approximately US$2.11 million).
The auction house, Osenat Auction, stated that this amount surpasses the previous record of 1.884 million euros (approximately US$2.06 million) set in an auction in 2014.
At that time, Kim Heung-kook, the chairman of Harim, a Korean food company, bought the hat.
In the auction held in Fontainebleau, outside of Paris, the organizers presented a black beaver felt hat with pointed sides.
Jean-Pierre Osenat, the auction house representative, stated that Napoleon owned about 120 hats, and his trademark was a black beaver felt hat.
The hat has passed through several hands, from French industrialist Col Pierre Baillon to businessman Jean-Louis Noisiez, who owned it until his death last year.
The auction house has not disclosed the identity of the person who won the bid for the hat.
Napoleon distinguished himself from other officers with his unique style of wearing his hat with the brim pointed towards his shoulders on the battlefield.
People say that Napoleon’s “en bataille” (in battle) style hat allowed soldiers to identify him easily.
The auction draws attention to the controversial French ruler as it coincides with the upcoming release of the film Napoleon, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix.
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