“Some 200 years ago, Sotheby’s had the honour of auctioning Napoleon’s personal library—an extraordinary success which was echoed this evening when we unveiled one of the most significant collections of his belongings ever assembled, a powerful reminder of how Napoleon continues to captivate the world with his legacy and myth. Pierre-Jean Chalençon’s remarkable collection drew global attention, far surpassing estimates and setting new benchmarks for this category.”
Louis-Xavier Joseph
Senior Director & Head of Department, Furniture & Decorative Arts, Sotheby’s Paris
Facts & Figures at a Glance:
- Total achieved: €8.7m / US$9.6m (estimate in the region of €6m)
- 90% sold by lot; nearly 50% of lots sold over their high estimate
- Institutional bidding and buying on several lots, including:
- Lot 1 and 68 were pre-empted by Musée Napoléonien des Châteaux de Malmaison
- Lot 52 was pre-empted by the Manufacture de Sèvres
- Images of Napoleon and family in strong demand:
- 13 paintings realise a total of €3.1m against an estimate of €1.7-1.8m
- 4 bidders and more on multiple lots:
- eg. lot 45, 68, 71, 72, 79, 80, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 104, 105
Top 5 Lots:
- A painting of Napoleon by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse (Lot 3)
- Pursued by 4 bidders, sold for €863,600 / US$999,833 – almost 20 times its estimate (€30,000-50,000) – a new auction record for the artist (previous record €18,750)
- Studio of François-Pascal-Simon Baron Gérard, Napoleon in his Coronation Robes (Lot 12): €736,600 / US$852,799 (est .€400,000 – €500,000)
- The only surviving remnant of Napoléon first will, written on Saint Helena in early August 1819 (Lot 108): €482,600 / US$558,730 (est. €300,000 – €500,000)
- An Empire giltwood Imperial throne armchair, circa 1805-1815 (Lot 20): €406,400 / US$470,510 (est. €400,000 – €600,000)
- Marie-Guillemine Benoist, Portrait of Empress Marie-Louise an auction record for the artist
An Empire giltwood Imperial throne armchair, circa 1805-1815 (Lot 20): €406,400 / US$470,510 (est. €400,000 – €600,000)
Further Runaway Results:
- A tea chest bearing the coat-of-arms of Napoleon I (lot 104): €63,500 / US$73,517 – chased by 7 bidders to achieve more than 10x its high estimate (est. €4,000 – €6,000)
- A sleeve from Napoleon’s Consular Garment (lot 9): €119,380 / US$138,212 – nearly 7x its low estimate (est. €20,000 – €30,000)
- Removed by the tailor “Chevallier” after a servant spilled sauce on the sleeve during a meal, it was kept in the tailor’s family as a treasured heirloom.
- Copy of the religious marriage certificate of the Emperor Napoléon and Empress Joséphine (Lot 22): €165,100 / US$191,145 – 5.5x its low estimate (est €30,000 – 50,000)
- Executed on 1 December 1804, this certificate formalises one of history’s most fabled love stories
- A gold and ebony personal seal of Napoleon with the Great Imperial Coat of Arms, 1804-1809 (Lot 98): €304,800 / US$352,882 (est. €150,000 – 250,000)
- A French Empire silver beaker from Napoléon’s campaign service (lot 99): €44,450 / US$51,462 – double its high estimate (est. €15,000 – 20,000)
- A “1815” Empire flag of the 10th Regiment of cuirassiers, circa 1815 (Lot 96): €120,650 / US$139,683 (est €40,000 -60,000) – twice its high estimate
- Jacques-Louis David, Portrait du pape Pie VII (Lot 18): €22,860 / US$XX (est. €6,000 – 8,000)
- A set of various clothing belonging to Napoléon, 1800-1820 (Lot 45): €133,350 / US$154,386 – more than double its low estimate (est.€50,000 – 80,000)
- François-Pascal-Simon Baron Gérard Portrait de la reine Hortense et de ses enfants (Lot 71): €107,950 / US$124,979 – more than double its high estimate (est. €30,000 – 50,000)
Additional Results by Category
Paintings and Works on Paper Reach Multiples of Their High Estimates:
- François-André Vincent, Battle of the Pyramids: €76 200 / US$999,833, preempted by Musée Napoléonien des Châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau (Lot 1)
- Auction record for Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse, Napoleon Crossing the Alps at the Great St Bernard Pass (Lot 3) – see above.
- Edouard Detaille, Bonaparte in Italy: €203, 200 / $235,255 – double its high estimate (est. €60,000 – 100,000) (Lot 7)
- Baron Gros, Bonaparte, First Consul: €254,000 / US$294,068
- Studio of François-Pascal-Simon Baron Gérard, Napoleon in his Coronation Robes: €736 600 / US$852,799 (Lot 8)
- Gérard Gérard, Hortense with her children: €107 950 / US$124,979 – double its high estimate (est. €30,000 – 50,000) (Lot 71)
- Auction record, Marie-Guillemine Benoist, Portrait of Empress Marie-Louise: €381 000 / US$441,103 – more than x4 times its high estimate (est. €60,000 – 80,000) (Lot 80)
Sculpture:
Carrara workshops, after Antonio Canova, Bust of Napoléon Ier: €83 360 / US$99,983 – 3x times its high estimate (est. €20,000 – 30,000) (Lot 48)
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