Artcurial will present a unique collection of historical souvenirs of the First and Second Empires on April 1st. This extraordinary auction will feature more than 370 lots, privileged witnesses of History, dating from the French Revolution to the Paris Commune.

Coming from the collection of a passionate enthusiast from the South-West of France, rare objects once belonging to the emperor will be presented at the auction. Among them, an exceptional Knight of the Crown jewel from Napoleon I’s Rue de la Couronne, seized by the Prussians from his famous carriages after the defeat at Waterloo (estimated €30,000 – 50,000), as well as a personal rifle of Napoleon I by Maison Lepage, exhibited by the Bro de Commère family at the 1900 Exposition Universelle (estimated €50,000 – 80,000). Additionally, the second Empire will be illustrated by a presentation box in enamelled gold, set with diamonds and adorned with the cipher of Napoleon III (estimated €15,000 – 20,000), along with two grand portraits of the imperial couple by the workshop of Franz-Xaver Winterhalter (estimated €60,000 – 80,000). A large portion of the objects offered at the sale originates from the former Napoleonic collection of the Prince's Palace of Monaco for the First Empire (1804-1815) and that of Christopher Forbes for the Second Empire (1852-1870).

From the Egyptian campaign to exile on Saint Helena, passing through Napoleon’s coronation, this collection offers a wide range of historically rich items, retracing the key moments of the First Empire (1804-1815). Among these unique objects, there are fragments of officer sabres found on the battlefield of the Pyramids (estimated €10,000 – 15,000). The auction continues with pieces illustrating the youth of Napoleon Bonaparte, such as a precious mathematics case he used when he was a young artillery officer in Auxonne (estimated €10,000 – 20,000). His meteoric rise is then marked by mementoes from the Coronation, including a fragment of a lambrequin adorned with bees, from the decoration of Notre-Dame (estimated €4,000 – 8,000). The emperor’s personal life is also revealed to the public, with key items such as a very rare personal rifle of Napoleon I from 1812 by Lepage (estimated €50,000 – 80,000) and a flag from the 1st Battalion of the 111th Infantry Regiment, bearing the motto “Valeur et Discipline” (“Valor and Discipline,”) from the former collection of Prince Louis II of Monaco (estimated €30,000 – 40,000).

Among the key pieces retracing the First Empire, there is an exceptional Knight of the Crown of Rue jewel (estimated €30,000 - 50,000) as well as a copy of Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans by Plutarch (estimated €20,000 - 30,000), both belonging to Napoleon I and seized by the Prussians during the capture of the famous imperial carriages on June 18, 1815, after the defeat at Waterloo.

Upon his return from the island of Elba, Napoleon led the Grande Armée against the coalition powers in the famous Battle of Waterloo. After a day of fighting, and despite heroic resistance against the English forces of Wellington and the Prussian troops of Marshal Blücher, the French army ultimately gave way. His carriages were captured, and the precious spoils were handed over to Field Marshal von Blücher, commander of the Prussian armies, who offered four of Napoleon I's decorations — including the Knight of the Order of the Crown of Rue star, presented here at Artcurial — to Major General Willem van Panhuys, the Dutch representative at the battle. This decoration was acquired in the early 20th century by Prince Louis II of Monaco from the descendants of the general, before entering the collection of an enthusiast, whose collection will be dispersed on April 1st. These decorations, along with many objects recovered from the imperial carriages after Waterloo, were brought together in 2012 for an exhibition at the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur.

This auction also highlights the Second Empire (1852-1870) through exceptional pieces, such as an enamelled gold snuffbox, set with diamonds and bearing the cipher of Emperor Napoleon III (estimated €15,000 – 20,000), as well as two grand portraits of the imperial couple, created by the workshop of Franz-Xaver Winterhalter and part of the prestigious Forbes collection (estimated €60,000 – 80,000). It also features the last insignia of the Legion of Honour worn by Napoleon III, passed on to his valet and then to the painter Raymond Desvarreux (estimated €8,000 – 12,000).

Particularly moving items revealing the intimacy of the imperial family complete this collection. Among them, the Emperor's last pen, carefully preserved by his faithful secretary Franceschini-Pietri (estimated €1,500 - 3,000), as well as a beautiful ink drawing of the music pavilion in the gardens of Saint-Cloud, drawn by the Empress herself (estimated €800 - 1,200). Finally, the small infantry Second Lieutenant uniform of the Imperial Prince, accompanied by his reduced-size sword of a division general model, will close this exceptional collection (estimated €10,000 - 15,000).

A large portion of the objects presented for the First Empire comes from the former Napoleonic collection of the Prince's Palace of Monaco, and for the Second Empire, from the collection of Christopher Forbes. Louis II of Monaco (1870-1949), great-grandfather of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, studied command at Saint-Cyr in 1893 before volunteering in 1914. He participated in the victory at the Marne and distinguished himself during the fierce battles of the Chemin des Dames. He would later become a general before succeeding his father as head of the Principality in 1922. His passion for weapons and the Napoleonic era never left him. Throughout his life, he tirelessly enriched his collection with the finest imperial objects. In 2014, the Palace put part of his treasures up for sale, with some joining the collection of this great enthusiast. In the same spirit, numerous mementoes from the Second Empire come from the collection of Christopher Forbes, who has been passionate about this period since the age of 16 and has amassed the largest private collection dedicated to Louis Napoléon Bonaparte. Through this collection, he honors both the first president of the French and their last sovereign.