Napoleon's world is on display for a landmark auction, from divorce papers to his iconic hat
His battered military hat. A sleeve from his red velvet coat. Even the divorce papers that ended one of history's most tormented romances — with Josephine, the empress who haunted him to the end.
Two centuries after his downfall, Napoleon remains both revered and controversial in France — but above all, unavoidable. Polls have shown that many admire his vision and achievements, while others condemn his wars and authoritarian rule. Nearly all agree his legacy still shapes the nation.
'These are not just museum pieces. They're fragments of a life that changed history,' said Louis-Xavier Joseph, Sotheby's head of European furniture, who helped assemble the trove. 'You can literally hold a piece of Napoleon's world in your hand.'
From battlefields to boudoirs
The auction — aiming to make in excess of 7 million euros ($7.5 million) — is a biography in objects. The centerpiece is Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat, the black felt chapeau he wore in battle — with wings parallel to his shoulders — so soldiers and enemies could spot him instantly through the gunpowder haze.
'Put a bicorne on a table, and people think of Napoleon immediately,' Joseph said. 'It's like the laurel crown of Julius Caesar.'
The hat is estimated to sell for at least over half a million dollars.
For all the pageantry — throne, swords, the Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor — the auction's true power comes from its intimacy. It includes the handwritten codicil of Napoleon's final will, composed in paranoia and illness on Saint Helena.
There is the heartbreakingly personal: the red portfolio that once contained his divorce decree from Josephine, the religious marriage certificate that formalized their love and a dressing table designed for the empress. Her famed mirror reflects the ambition and tragedy of their alliance.
'Napoleon was a great lover; his letters that he wrote are full of fervor, of love, of passion,' Joseph said. 'It was also a man who paid attention to his image. Maybe one of the first to be so careful of his image, both public and private.'
A new generation of exposure
The auction's timing is cinematic. The recent biopic grossed over $220 million worldwide and reanimated Napoleon's myth for a TikTok generation hungry for stories of ambition, downfall and doomed romance.
The auction preview is open to the public, running through June 24, with the auction set for June 25.
Not far from the Arc de Triomphe monument dedicated to the general's victories, Djamal Oussedik, 22, shrugged: 'Everyone grows up with Napoleon, for better or worse. Some people admire him, others blame him for everything. But to see his hat and his bed, you remember he was a real man, not just a legend.'
'You can't escape him, even if you wanted to. He's part of being French,' said teacher Laure Mallet, 51.
History as spectacle
The exhibition is a spectacle crafted by celebrity designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, famed for dressing Lady Gaga and Pope John Paul II.
'I wanted to electrify history,' Castelbajac said. 'This isn't a mausoleum, it's a pop culture installation. Today's collectors buy a Napoleon artifact the way they'd buy a guitar from Jimi Hendrix. They want a cabinet of curiosities.'
He's filled the show with fog, hypnotic music and immersive rooms. One is inspired by the camouflage colors of Fontainebleau. Another is anchored by Napoleon's legendary folding bed. 'I create the fog in the entrance of the Sotheby's building because the elements of nature were an accomplice to Napoleon's strategy,' the designer said.
Castelbajac, who said his ancestor fought in Napoleon's Russian campaign, brought a personal touch. 'I covered the emperor's bed in original canvas. You can feel he was just alone, facing all he had built. There's a ghostly presence.'
He even created something Napoleon only dreamed of. 'Napoleon always wanted a green flag instead of the blue, white, red tricolore of the revolution,' he said, smiling. 'He never got one. So I made it for Sotheby's.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is It Ever Okay to Fire a Bridesmaid? Here's What You Need to Know If You've Grown Apart or She's Not Living Up to the Role
There's a right—and a wrong—way to do this. It's your wedding and you make the rules. After choosing your venue, hiring your key vendor team, and making the guest list, one of the biggest decisions you face is deciding who will—and won't—be part of your wedding party. "For brides and bridesmaids, they have likely been planning to be in each others' wedding parties for years, often dreaming of the day together since childhood or college," Emilie Dulles, etiquette and wedding invitations expert our Expert Emilie Dulles is an etiquette, calligraphy, and wedding invitations expert with over two decades of custom stationery design and printing experience for affluent clients in the US, Europe, and Caribbean Islands. Find out more at Dulles Designs or follow the official Instagram."Being a bridesmaid has its share of responsibilities, and all bridesmaids should be up and fit for the task, quick and elegant in their duties, and on their best behavior for many months leading up to [the] wedding," our expert notes. "The minute your save-the-dates go into the mail, your bridesmaids now have an elegant mission to accomplish." So, what happens if you realize you've made a mistake? Whether you two have grown apart or she's no longer living up to her duties in the role, is it ever okay to fire a bridesmaid? Can you really ask her to step back without ruining your relationship and wreaking havoc on your own wedding plans? Yes, but how you do it is important. "Given my decades of experience, I can tell you all wedding plans experience revised decisions and relationship setbacks to some extent, especially during the final weeks and months leading up to the day," explains Dulles. Ahead, we share when it is—and isn't—appropriate to fire a bridesmaid and how to do it respectfully and tactfully. Plus, we share what not to do when asking this attendant to step back from her role. Related: 7 Signs That Indicate You're Being a Difficult Bridesmaid Is It Okay to Fire a Bridesmaid? A quick Google search about firing bridesmaids will lead you to what seems like hundreds of Reddit posts asking this simple question. If you feel like you need to ask an attendant to take a step back from the role, it's important to know that you're not alone. Sadly, this situation occurs more than you'd think, and it's okay to ask her to step down if she's no longer living up to the role, you two have grown apart, or another extenuating circumstance is taking place. Still, asking your friend to step down from this honor is a drastic measure and not one that you ought to take lightly. It's not just about asking them to give up their place in your wedding party. The move speaks volumes about how you view your relationship with your friend. If you've grown apart and see each other less than you did when you popped the bridesmaid question, Dulles says that's not really an excuse to ask her to take a step back. "You should only rescind a bridesmaid ask in unfixable situations involving wrongdoing, or if a bizarre twist of fate befalls your wedding date for the both of you simultaneously," she explains. So, when can you fire a bridesmaid? "In my experience, the most common instigation for a bridesmaid being removed from any wedding party is when some unsavory or deviant behavior, nastiness, or bitter betrayal of their doing unfolds during the final stages of your wedding plan, and the person becomes no longer welcome," Dulles says. If you she refuses to help with any part of the wedding or involve herself in pre-wedding events, this could also be cause to ask her to step down. How to Fire a Bridesmaid Ready to take the plunge and ask your friend not to be your bridesmaid? While there's no perfect way to un-pop the question, there are some tips that will help you get through this somewhat unscathed. Consider how this will affect your relationship with this person and others. Before you ask her to step down from her role, you should think about how this move will affect not only your friendship with your bridesmaid, but also your wider circle of family members and friends. "Your friendship may be in jeopardy after the conversation takes place and reverberates socially, so be prepared for all possible outcomes when you decide to ask someone to no longer be a member of your wedding's inner circle," says Dulles. If you're asking your future spouse's sister to step back, for example, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation with your in-laws. If the bridesmaid in question is friends with other attendants, the rest of your 'maids might start choosing sides. Be clear in your decision. There are no ifs, buts, or maybes here. You have made the decision and that is final. "Explain how much your friendship means to you, yet you want to make sure that everyone at your wedding has the best time possible—especially your fiancé and you included—and that's why you feel the need to rescind the ask. The key is to be clear and remain firm in your decision," Dulles offers. Ask a friend to be present. Gossip spreads like wildfire. If you're concerned that your friend will be sharing a remix of how you let them down, make sure you have a witness. Dulles explains, "If the person is prone to getting upset or retaliating socially, having a witness present with you as a third party observer is a good idea." Avoid using tired cliches. You may be tempted to go with the old 'it's not me, it's you' excuse but don't do it. "Try to avoid cliches or cop-outs, and definitely do not rehash all the details or open up a new court case over the matter. You must phrase the conversation as a case-closed communication, not something that's up for negotiation or entreaties. Be fair, be clear, and be honest." Give her some time and space. This news may come as a shock to your friend. "Give them the space to react whilst you remain as calm as possible," says Dulles. "Once you've explained your position, there's no need to argue or delve into more reasons why she's disinvited from your bridal party. The phrase: 'I'm sorry, yet I'm making this decision for myself, my future spouse, and our families' is all you need to say." Let her know she's still invited to the wedding (if she is!). If the relationship isn't entirely irreparable, make it clear that you'd still love her to be present as a guest. Being asked to step back from bridesmaids' duties might even come as a relief to her. Try to salvage the friendship. Last but not least, try to save the friendship (if you can!). "The first sign of anyone taking responsibility for their actions or transgressions is to try and make amends, accept the disinvitation elegantly, and move past the unpleasantness like mature adults," says Dulles. "If she reaches out her hand in apology and sees the decision as a good idea, then the friendship is surely salvageable." What Not to Do When Firing a Bridesmaid There's a right and a wrong way to ask an attendant to step down, so it's important to do this tactfully and respectfully. Here's what you shouldn't do. Don't tell her over text message. It may be uncomfortable, but it's best to have this conversation in person; if that's not possible, do it over the phone. A text message or email isn't appropriate here. Don't harp on everything that's gone wrong. It's important that you tell her why you're making this decision, it's best not to harp on every shortcoming. Be clear with her, but also be concise—dragging out the conversation will feel worse for both of you. Don't doubt yourself. Once you've made this decision, be firm with it. The last thing you want to do it start to second-guess your feelings or give her an opportunity to step back into the role. Up Next: 10 Things Brides Do That Annoy Their Bridesmaids Read the original article on Brides Solve the daily Crossword


Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Alex Warren Rockets Into The Top 10 With An Unusual Strategy
Alex Warren expands You'll Be Alright, Kid into a full-length, sending the set into the top 10 on ... More four Billboard charts, including the Billboard 200. TONSBERG, NORWAY - JULY 10: Alex Warren performs on stage during Slottsfjell festival at Slottsfjellet on July 10, 2025 in Tonsberg, Norway. (Photo by Anne-Marie Forker/Redferns) Alex Warren employed an interesting strategy when it came to releasing his debut album. Instead of dropping a brand new, full-length effort completely separate from his You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One) EP, he chose to expand upon that shorter project. In doing so, he rockets up several Billboard rankings and earns his first placements within the top 10 across multiple charts at once. The full-length You'll Be Alright, Kid has now spent months on the most important albums roster in America, and it's bigger than ever. You'll Be Alright, Kid's Big Singles The 21-track album includes all 10 songs from You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One) as well as additional cuts like "Eternity," "Bloodline" with Jelly Roll, "On My Mind" with Rosé, and of course, "Ordinary." The incredible popularity of that track — which leads the Hot 100 again this week — is largely responsible for the success of You'll Be Alright, Kid, which pushes Warren into the highest reaches of the biggest charts in the American music industry. Alex Warren Bolts Into the Top 10 Warren shoots from No. 19 to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 as You'll Be Alright, Kid changes from an EP to a proper album. The project also enters the top tier of the Top Streaming Albums list for the first time, jumping from No. 15 to No. 5. Alex Warren's Album Debuts Inside the Top 10 As You'll Be Alright, Kid rockets up those Billboard tallies, it also debuts inside the top 10 on two more rosters. Warren's first full-length arrives at No. 5 on the Vinyl Albums list and No. 7 on the Top Album Sales chart. Months on the Charts Already You'll Be Alright, Kid is brand new to both the general sales tally and the vinyl chart, but it has lived for months on the other two rankings, where it now bolts into the loftiest tier. Warren's project has spent 18 weeks on the Top Streaming Albums list and 35 on the Billboard 200. Billboard groups the two efforts into one for charting purposes. The original EP, You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter One), peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, just shy of the top 10, before being re-released and expanded.


Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Ballerina' 4K Blu-Ray Details Revealed—Including Multiple Steelbook Editions
While we wait for John Wick to make a now-confirmed and, given the events of Chapter 4, rather surprising comeback in a future film of his own, Lionsgate has been busy keeping Wick fans happy with royally entertaining spin-off, Ballerina. Fresh from a $132m cinematic run and featuring an impressive and athletic turn by Ana De Armas as an assassin trained in the ways of the Ruska Roma on a mission to avenge the death of her father, Ballerina is now confirmed as getting a 4K Blu-ray release on September 9 – complete with a variety of packaging options and a promising selection of bonus features. The Steelbook edition of Ballerina set to be sold at Walmart in the U.S. and HMV in the U.K. Looking first at the 4K Blu-ray's master of the film, its audio will be provided by what I anticipate will be a seriously pulsating Dolby Atmos mix (can't wait to hear the grenade sequence again!), while the 4K-resolution image will be available in a Dolby Vision HDR master. If your TV, projector or 4K Blu-ray player isn't equipped to handle Dolby Vision's extra scene by scene image data, the video stream will default down to the core HDR10 high dynamic range format. Ballerina fans will be able to buy the film on 4K disc in either a standard 4K Blu-ray package (accompanied by the HD Blu-ray disc and a Digital streaming code) with an RRP of $42.99, or in one of a variety of Steelbook editions (again with included HD Blu-rays and digital codes). Amazon and WalMart are confirmed as receiving their own exclusive Steelbook versions, and I can confirm, too, that the version sold at Amazon in the U.S. will also be available in the U.K. at Amazon and Zavvi, while HMV in the U.K. will be exclusively getting the Steelbook version sold by WalMart. The 'Ballerina' 4K Blu-ray Steelbook edition set to be available from Amazon in the U.K. and U.S., ... More as well as Zavvi in the U.K. It appears that the extra features accompanying the film on 4K Blu-ray will be the same across all versions of the 4K release, rather than certain retailers getting specific unique features. And those extra features are as follows: — Related Reading Disney Reveals Details Of The Live Action 'Lilo & Stitch' 4K Blu-Ray Release 'Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World' Finally Gets A 4K Blu-Ray Release—On A 100GB Disc 'Monty Python And The Holy Grail' To Get 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-Ray Release