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Two pistols once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte were sold at auction in for €1.69 million ($1.84 million) after being declared national treasures by the French government. These intricately decorated firearms, inlaid with gold and silver and engraved with images of Napoleon, were estimated by the Osenat auction house to fetch between €1.2 million and €1.5 million. The auction took place on July 7 in Fontainebleau, south of Paris.
Jean-Pierre Osenat, president of the auction house, revealed that Napoleon had nearly used the weapons to end his life in 1814 after a military defeat. However, his grand squire removed the gunpowder, thwarting the suicide attempt. Napoleon later attempted suicide by ingesting poison but survived after vomiting. He then gifted the pistols to his squire, General Armand de Caulaincourt, whose descendants consigned them for auction.
The French Ministry of Culture designated the pistols as national treasures on July 6, just before the auction. This designation, accompanied by an export ban certificate, initiates a 30-month period during which the French government can offer to purchase the pistols from their new owner, who retains the right to refuse. The classification underscores the historical and cultural significance of the pistols, adding considerable value to the objects.
This sale s other notable auctions of Napoleon memorabilia, including one of his iconic "bicorne" hats, which sold for $2.1 million at another Osenat auction in November, far suring its original estimate. The pistols' sale highlights the enduring fascination with Napoleon's legacy and the significant value attributed to artifacts connected to his life.
Selena Mattei 
