Renowned French Antiques Collector Expresses Hope for Elon Musk's Acquisition of His Napoleon-Related Items at Sotheby's Auction
Hear ye, hear ye! Napoleon's gotta man who's got his swag, and he's got the goods to prove it. That's right, fam, we're talking about none other than Pierre-Jean Chalençon. Known as "France's most famous antiques collector" by the UK Times, he's the dude who's built one of the biggest and baddest offerings of Napoleonic material ever seen. Yes, sir, according to Sotheby's, this collection is a sight to behold.
In just over four decades, Chalençon has been a meticulous collector of all things Napoleon Bonaparte. His treasure trove traces the life of the infamous French general from childhood to exile on Saint Helena.
On June 25 in Paris, Sotheby's will be auctioning off around 100 lots from Chalençon's private collection. The sale, titled "Napoleon: A Historic Collection," includes some major pieces, such as one of Napoleon's iconic bicorne hats and a herald sword and stick used during his coronation ceremony at Notre-Dame de Paris.
But that's not all, my friends. Sotheby's is also putting up Napoleon's worn stockings and portable camp bed. The antiques dealer, who's not shy about calling himself "Napoleon's press officer," has said, "These lots are like my babies." In fact, he'd love for tech billionaire Elon Musk, whom he considers the new Napoleon, to gobble up the whole collection and keep it all together.
Sotheby's describes the collection as a vivid historical epic, unfolding across battlefields and boudoirs, ceremonial halls, and intimate chambers. It chronicles Napoleon's life, revealing not just power, politics, and pageantry, but also his vulnerabilities, ambitions, and contradictions.
Unfortunately, Chalençon's love for his collection has put him in a tight spot. To pay off a €10 million loan, he's been forced to sell his Parisian mansion, which he transformed into a shrine to Napoleon. He purchased the Palais Vivienne back in 2015 for €6 million and decked it out with his 1,000-piece strong collection, which includes Napoleon's coronation ring, complete with a 5.33 carat ruby.
The collection was displayed at Sotheby's Hong Kong from May 23-27 and is currently on show at Sotheby's New York until June 11. Elon Musk's schedule is jam-packed with tweets and rocket launches, but let's hope he finds time to bid on this historical auction. Whether he does or doesn't, one thing's for sure: this collection is a must-see for any history buff.
Enrichment Info:Chalençon's collection includes about 1,000 pieces, offering a comprehensive view of Napoleon's life and reign. The collection includes iconic items, such as Napoleon's bicorne hat, which is estimated to sell for €500,000 to €800,000. These artifacts not only represent grand historical symbols but also provide intimate insights into Napoleon's personal life and vision. This auction is a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces of French history, especially during a time of heightened interest in Napoleon.
Collectors looking to own a piece of French history will have the chance to bid on artwork and artifacts from Pierre-Jean Chalençon's collection at Sotheby's, an auction featuring over 100 lots related to Napoleon Bonaparte. Among the major pieces up for sale are Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat, his herald sword and stick, and personal items like his worn stockings and portable camp bed. The auction, titled "Napoleon: A Historic Collection," also includes more intimate relics, such as Napoleon's coronation ring, adorned with a 5.33 carat ruby. With celebrities and pop-culture icons shown to have an interest in art and history, this auction could attract a new generation of collectors due to its ties to grand historical symbols and Napoleon's personal life.
