Diamond Brooch Lost by Napoleon to be Auctioned for the First Time After 200 Years
A rare diamond brooch lost by Napoleon during his escape from the Battle of Waterloo is to be auctioned for the first time in 200 years. The sale is expected to attract significant attention from collectors and historians worldwide.
The brooch is a stunning example of 19th-century jewelry-making, featuring a large diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and precious stones. It is believed to have been a gift from Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's wife, to the French emperor.
The Brooch's History
The brooch was lost when Napoleon fled the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The French emperor had been defeated by a coalition of British and Prussian forces led by the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher. As Napoleon fled the battlefield, he left behind a number of personal items, including the brooch.
The brooch changed hands several times over the years, with various collectors and dealers attempting to sell it. However, it was never auctioned publicly, and its exact whereabouts were unknown to the general public.
It is believed that the brooch was purchased by a wealthy collector in the mid-19th century, who owned it for several decades before selling it to a dealer in the early 20th century. The dealer, who wished to remain anonymous, has now decided to sell the brooch at auction.
The Auction
The auction, which is expected to take place in the coming months, is being held by a leading auction house in Paris. The sale is expected to attract significant attention from collectors and historians, who are eager to get their hands on the rare piece of history.
The auction house has announced that the brooch will be sold as part of a larger sale of jewelry and other items from the Napoleonic era. The sale is expected to feature a number of other rare and valuable items, including a diamond-encrusted snuff box and a gold and silver locket.
The auction house has estimated the value of the brooch to be in the hundreds of thousands of euros. However, the final sale price is expected to be significantly higher, given the rarity and historical significance of the item.
Collectors and historians are eagerly awaiting the auction, which is expected to be one of the most significant sales of the year.
The sale of the brooch is a significant moment in the history of Napoleon's personal items, which have been the subject of intense interest and speculation over the years.
