Napoleon Bonaparte's relics on display in Paris: Divorce papers, iconic hat, and more up for grabs in landmark auction
According to AP, the relics of one of the most controversial, yet undeniable European leaders are on display in Paris ahead of an iconic event which historians and experts are claiming to be one of the biggest Napoleon auctions ever staged.
'These are not just museum pieces. They're fragments of a life that changed history. You can literally hold a piece of Napoleon's world in your hand," Louis-Xavier Joseph, Sotheby's head of European furniture, who helped assemble the trove, was quoted as telling AP.
'Put a bicorne on a table, and people think of Napoleon immediately. It's like the laurel crown of Julius Caesar. Napoleon was a great lover; his letters that he wrote are full of fervor, of love, of passion. 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," Joseph continued.
'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. 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,' the AP report on the Napoleon auction reads.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Historic! R Praggnanandhaa becomes new World No. 3 after beating D Gukesh at Sinquefield Cup chess tournament
Indian chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa has achieved another historic milestone, climbing to World No. 3 in the live rankings after defeating reigning World Champion D Gukesh in the opening round of the prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Louis. With this victory, the 20-year-old Grandmaster moved up to a live rating of 2784.1 points. Only (2839) and Hikaru Nakamura (2807) are ahead of him, while he now sits among the sport's true elite. Praggnanandhaa also shares the tournament lead with American veteran Levon Aronian, who outwitted Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Exclusive Interview: How Aarini Lahoty, 5, Leads India's Youngest Chess Talents Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. The remaining first-round matches saw Fabiano Caruana draw with Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Samuel Sevian split the point with Wesley So, and French stars Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja cancel each other out. The Sinquefield Cup, featuring a prize pool of USD 350,000, still has eight rounds left. At this stage, six players are tied just behind Praggnanandhaa and Aronian, while Gukesh and Abdusattorov are yet to open their accounts. The clash between the two young Indian superstars drew special attention. Gukesh, with the black pieces, chose the Queen's Gambit Accepted, but his early queen exchange left him on the back foot. Spending significant time in a familiar position, he slipped into a dubious structure. Praggnanandhaa capitalised with the bishop pair, gained a clear advantage, and pressed relentlessly. As Gukesh's clock dwindled, mistakes crept in, and Praggnanandhaa forced a pawn win before converting smoothly in just 36 moves. "I don't really know what happened today. I think he was a bit off," said Praggnanandhaa after the match. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The win also balanced their classical head-to-head record. "Last year, I messed up some good positions against him, I think I did not beat him (in classical) for almost two years now, so finally it's good to get a win," he noted. With momentum on his side, Praggnanandhaa now stands on the cusp of making Indian chess history.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Taylor Swift's fans are excited about all the sourdough Easter eggs
Swifties are once again putting their detective hats on and this time, they're convinced Taylor Swift is baking more than bread. They believe that subtle hints dropped during her latest public appearance point toward her headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. This album cover image released by Republic Records shows "The Life of a Showgirl" by Taylor Swift. (Republic Records via AP)(AP) The theory began brewing after Swift appeared on the New Heights podcast, hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, and the episode turned into a goldmine of supposed Easter eggs. ALSO READ| Chiefs video reaction to Taylor Swift Travis Kelce podcast goes viral- Watch For Swifties, nothing is accidental Swift and the Kelce brothers spent a surprising amount of time chatting about one very specific topic: sourdough bread. Next year's Super Bowl 60 will take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, home to the San Francisco 49ers. Their mascot? None other than Sourdough Sam, a miner character who also happens to share a name with Swift's latest obsession. 'I now talk about sourdough 60% of the time,' Swift joked on the podcast. The number instantly sent her followers into a frenzy Super Bowl 60, sourdough at Levi's Stadium, and now Swift's playful comment about '60%.' To Swifties, it was all but confirmation that their favorite superstar is already warming up to take the stage in February 2026. So if Swifties' theory proves true, the Grammy Award winner would be the first halftime show headliner outside the worlds of R&B and hip-hop since 2020, when Shakira and Jennifer Lopez performed together. ALSO READ| 'What a weirdo'; James Comey's 'On Taylor Swift' video draws huge backlash, here's what he said Billboard's Pop Shop Podcast even dedicated time to laying out all the fan theories, pointing out just how much weight Swift's 'sourdough clues' seem to carry. It's not the first time Swifties have unraveled potential Easter eggs from seemingly random details, but the timing and connections here feel unusually strong.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
How social media reinvented the charcuterie board
Once upon a time, a charcuterie board was a rustic French spread: cured meats, aged cheeses, a bit of bread, maybe some olives. It was elegant but predictable, the kind of thing you would see in wine bars or European kitchens. Fast forward to today, and thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, the charcuterie board has transformed into a cultural phenomenon, far beyond its traditional origins. Social media did not just popularize the charcuterie board, it reinvented it. What was once a niche gourmet platter has now become a blank canvas for creativity, a viral aesthetic, and a new kind of food performance. The rise of the 'Instagrammable' board A turning point came when food styling met social media. People realized that arranging foods in vibrant, geometric, or whimsical patterns was not just tasty, it was instantly shareable. A wheel of brie with honey drizzled across it, strawberries fanned out like petals, and salami folded into roses? That is not just food; that is content. The hashtag #charcuterieboard has amassed millions of posts, each one pushing the boundaries of design. Some boards look like mosaics, others resemble landscapes. The board is no longer only eaten; it is photographed, admired, and then consumed. Beyond meat and cheese Another way social media has reinvented charcuterie is by loosening its definition. Online, you will find entire themed boards that barely resemble the French original. There are: Breakfast boards filled with pancakes, fruits, syrups, and coffee shots. Dessert boards stacked with cookies, truffles, and chocolates. Vegan boards featuring hummus, roasted veggies, and nut cheeses. Even candy boards and fast-food boards have had their moment. The trend shows how social media democratizes food culture. You do not need access to imported cured meats to make a charcuterie board. You just need a cutting board, some creativity, and an eye for presentation. A new kind of hosting Charcuterie's reinvention also reflects the way we gather today. The modern board is all about abundance and inclusivity. It is casual enough for friends who just want to graze, but chic enough for dinner parties. Social media taught us that food does not always have to be plated in individual portions. Instead, a board invites people to come together, share, and interact, making it as much about the experience as the flavors. Viral aesthetics: the board as art What makes charcuterie boards so addictive on feeds is their visual appeal. Bright fruits against creamy cheeses, glossy olives nestled beside rustic crackers, edible flowers sprinkled like confetti — it is a color palette designers dream of. Food influencers have leaned into this, offering tutorials on how to fold meat into roses or arrange cheeses in perfect diagonals. The process itself has become satisfying content. People watch time-lapse videos of boards being built, enjoying the calm, ASMR-like precision of it all. The business of boards It did not take long for entrepreneurs to catch on. Across cities, charcuterie stylists now offer curated boards and grazing tables for weddings, parties, and events. Small businesses promote their boards on social media, often selling out through nothing more than carefully styled posts. For many, this side hustle has turned into a thriving business. It is proof that social media is not just influencing what we eat but creating entirely new industries around it. The future: from trend to tradition? The charcuterie board may have started as a rustic French tradition, but in the social media era, it has become something larger — a cultural shorthand for creativity, community, and abundance. Whether it is a butter board going viral or an elaborate grazing table at a wedding, the evolution shows no signs of slowing down. What is next? Possibly more playful, hyper-specific boards: ramen boards, dosa boards, even regional Indian snack boards. The beauty of the charcuterie trend is its adaptability. There is no single right way to do it anymore. Social media did not just reinvent the charcuterie board, it turned it into an idea. A board is now a stage, a story, a shared moment. And in an age where food is photographed as much as it is eaten, the charcuterie board is the perfect star.
