In his recent book, “History of Napoleon’s Hat,” Bryan Goldberg tells the story behind the bicorne hat. Napoleon wore it on many of his campaigns in 1806 and 1807, as well as during meetings, to keep his head warm. In 1814, a Scottish aristocrat named Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart purchased the hat and kept it in his family castle for more than 200 years. Goldberg, who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, has a passion for watches and rare whisky, especially Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, which is valued at $5,000 per bottle.
Bicorne hat
The CEO of BDG, which owns Gawker and Bustle, won EUR1,222,500 (about $1.43 million) for Napoleon’s bicorne hat, a price that would have surpassed the value of the hat itself. His purchase of the hat is an amazing feat, and has drawn comparisons to Napoleon and the Shaw Stewart line of baronets, who purchased the hat as a souvenir during a visit to France.
The story of the hat’s famous use and its history is fascinating. The hat was worn by Napoleon during his campaign in Poland. It was the height of his success. It is one of 19 authenticated hats that remain in existence today. Goldberg’s hat is now displayed in a museum. Until then, we’ll have to wait for more news on its fate.
Beaver fur
The chapeau of Napoleon III arrived in the United States earlier this month. Now it is being stored in Delaware. The chapeau is made of black felt and beaver fur and embellished with a revolutionary cockade. It is one of 19 authenticated hats and will be displayed in a museum. While it is certainly a stunning piece of art, it’s not for everyone.
Beaver fur felt
The famous ‘bicorne’ hat worn by Napoleon in the Battle of Marengo in 1800 has been purchased by a South Korean collector for EUR1.9 million. The hat sold for more than five times its high estimate of EUR400,000. Only a few other examples of the hat are in private collections, but the recent sale of a reconstructed version is a striking example of its value.
There are only twenty or thirty authenticated Napoleon hats in the world, and most of them are in museums or have passed down through French noble families. To date, only one was in private hands, and it took detective work to establish its authenticity. The hat was purchased in Berlin from a theatrical costumier in the early 1880s. It was soon discovered that the hat had a number of distinctive markings inside it. The new owner quickly set out to find out more about the hat.
The size, shape, and construction of the hat are in accordance with those of other bicornes used by Napoleon. The headband of the bicorne, usually made of leather, has been removed. The hat’s size corresponds to other bicornes in the Napoleonic period, which explains the difference in price. The hat is characterized by a tricolor cockade.
