Meet The Man Behind The Largest Napoleonic Collection In History

Forbes

2 days ago

Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat with an estimate of $571,167 - $913,867.
There is no greater collector or no greater fan of Napoleon Bonaparte than Pierre-Jean Chalençon. He is easily the most prolific collector of Napoleonic material, reportedly estimated to be more than 1,000 items. In fact, his collection, which has taken him four decades to amass, has grown so large that he reportedly no longer can afford to keep it all.
Thus, more than 100 of his cherished Napoleonic items will come to auction at Sotheby's Paris on June 24. It includes imperial furniture, silver, porcelain, sculpture, Old Master paintings, manuscripts and drawings. Items in the auction provide as complete a picture of the historical figure as possible, covering his childhood, his military career, his coronation at Notre-Dame, his family life, and finally the collapse of his empire and his exile to the island of Saint Helena.
The catalog hasn't been published yet but from the materials Sotheby's has released, the top lot of the sale is Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat, arguably the most prolific symbol of Napoleon's reign as a wartime leader. Officers typically wore their bicornes front to back. Napoleon, however, wore his in battle with the wings parallel to his shoulders. Its estimate is €500,000 – €800,000 ($571,167 - $913,867).
An Imperial Gift from Napoleon in 1811, a gold and diamond ring by Marc-Etienne Nitot, with an ... More estimate of $228,466 - $342,700
Another important lot is a a gold and diamond ring by Napoleon's official jeweler, Marc-Etienne Nitot, that was an imperial gift from Napoleon in 1811. Its estimate is €200,000- €300,000 ($228,466 - $342,700).
In an interview by email, Chalençon answered in a concise and frank manner question regarding his personal connection to Napoleon; his motivation to amass such a collection; his process of curating his collection; and the collection's historic, cultural and public significance.
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Pierre-Jean Chalençon: From childhood, I was struck by Napoleon's extraordinary destiny. He is the symbol of ascension through merit, of military and political genius, and above all, he demonstrated an iron will. He is this mythical figure, both human and superhuman, he is a self-made man.
French empire gold, enamel and diamond necklace watch, with an estimate of $45,700 - $68,500
PJC: Yes absolutely – it was a letter from Napoleon written when he was still at military school. In fact, it is the first letter by his hand ever known to exist. Acquiring this letter made me realise that historical artefacts have a soul.
PJC: It's grown and deepened as my collection expanded. The more items I collected the more they enabled me to understand the man behind the icon. Napoleon wasn't just a conqueror; he was a reformer and a master builder. My collection holds a mirror to the extraordinarily multi-faceted person he was.
PJC: Passion is the driving force, but it also requires discipline, an immense curiosity, networking and sometimes, yes, a little bit of luck. It's a lifelong endeavor, carried out with an almost sacred obsession.
PJC: It's a tough choice to make. I do like his gold seal, which was stolen from his carriage at Waterloo. It's extraordinary to have found this unique piece, which he held so dear. This was the only seal he used to ratify the most important documents of the Empire. The will is also an interesting piece. It is perhaps one the most important manuscript in the history of France. A man facing his destiny.
Napoleon's personal gold and ebony seal with an estimate of $171,350 - $285,583
PJC: Yes, there are many and, in truth, every new acquisition carries with it a special story and is an adventure.
PJC: I work with leading experts, and I research archives, correspondence and provenances. It's an almost archaeological process. There's no room for error.
PJC: They reveal an extremely human character. We move from imperial splendor to extreme destitution at Saint Helena. And yet, the same strength of soul endures throughout. It's overwhelming. But I leave it to future visitors to New York and then Paris to discover some little-known memorabilia that will undoubtedly change their view of the man.
The Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor with an estimate: $171,350 - $228,466
PJC: Yes, definitely – such as the idea that he was a cold tyrant. His letters, his personal belongings, show a sensitivity, a generosity, sometimes a fragility that contradict this cliché.
PJC: The Anglo-Saxons are fascinated by the romantic aspect of his period as an exile. Asians see him as a military and strategic genius. The French, for their part, oscillate between admiration and ambivalence. Americans recognize in him the man who started from nothing and conquered Europe in a decade. Napoleon remains endlessly fascinating.
PJC: We are the custodians of parts of history the state cannot always preserve, and we share it. It is a mission, almost a duty.
The herald sword and stick used during the coronation ceremony at Notre-Dame de Paris, with an ... More estimate of $228,466 - $456,933
PJC: The time has come. We must learn when to pass on such collections. These objects must continue to live on; to inspire and I want others to be able to carry this legacy forward.
PJC: History moves on, but Napoleon is eternal.
PJC: They are not just relics, but fragments of a destiny that changed the history of humanity and of a man who is still, today, perhaps the most famous historical figure in the world.
The religious marriage certificate of Napoleon and Joséphine with an estimate of $34,270 - $57,116
PJC: My dream would be for a buyer to come forward and purchase the entire collection. It's not a gathering of objects, but a truly complete and logical collection. It brings together the most important objects from the empire as well as the finest works of art from the period.
PJC: I own all of them.
PJC: Perhaps the buyer of the entire collection will do so, and I will be at their entire disposal to continue this adventure.