Napoleon's Personal Belongings Featured at Sotheby's Auction in Switzerland
13-Carat Diamond Brooch Sells for 5.2 Billion KRW
132-Carat Beryl Worn at Coronation Fetches 1.5 Billion KRW
A diamond brooch lost by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) during the war was sold at auction for about 5.2 billion KRW. According to Yonhap News on the 12th (local time), citing the Associated Press, "At a Sotheby's auction held in Geneva, Switzerland, the Napoleon brooch was sold for 2.85 million Swiss francs (about 5.25 billion KRW), and including fees and other costs, the final price exceeded 3.5 million Swiss francs (about 6.45 billion KRW)."
A diamond brooch lost by Napoleon during the war was sold at auction for about 5.2 billion KRW. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to Yonhap News, this brooch is a circular piece featuring a diamond of over 13 carats surrounded by cut diamond fragments. It is said that Napoleon left it behind in his carriage while retreating from the Anglo-Prussian allied forces at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. After suffering a decisive defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, known as his "final battle," Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, where he died.
The Prussian Hohenzollern royal family, who acquired the brooch, kept it as a family heirloom. However, Sotheby's did not disclose the identity of the seller, and stated that the buyer is a private collector.
Also featured at this auction was a green beryl (emerald) of about 132 carats, worn by Napoleon at his imperial coronation in 1804, which was sold for 838,000 Swiss francs (about 1.54 billion KRW).
On the 6th, at a Sotheby's auction held in Geneva, Switzerland, an employee is holding a green beryl worn by Napoleon I at his coronation. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
This auction drew even more attention because the items were Napoleon's personal belongings and due to a recent theft of Napoleon's jewels from the Louvre Museum in France. On October 19, thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre and are suspected of stealing eight pieces of jewelry worth about 149.9 billion KRW. Among the stolen items were an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon had given to his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. French authorities estimated the value of the stolen items at 88 million euros (about 150 billion KRW).
In May, one of Napoleon's personal belongings, a saber, was also auctioned and set a record high price. According to the auction house Drouot, Napoleon commissioned the sword in 1803 from Nicolas-Noel Boutet, then France's most renowned gunsmith. After becoming emperor, Napoleon kept the sword until the end of his reign, then gave it to his follower Emmanuel de Grouchy. The sword was initially expected to fetch around 1 million euros (about 1.64 billion KRW) at auction, but was ultimately sold for 4.7 million euros (about 7 billion KRW).
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