Napoleon Bonaparte's 200-year-old Handkerchief To Be Auctioned

Illustration of Napoleon Bonaparte (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau near Paris will auction off items belonging to former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The auction was held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death.

One of the items auctioned was his 200-year-old used handkerchief. "These precious items were given to my father by General de Montholon upon his return from St Helena," wrote the sworn statement accompanying the objects.

The statement was signed by the "second duke of Bassono" and quoted CNA, Saturday, May 15. In addition to handkerchiefs, other items belonging to Napoleon to be auctioned were white silk bags and fabrics used in the autopsy.

The items were obtained by Montholon because he and Napoleon were close friends. Even Montholon was involved in assisting napoleon's autopsy on 6 May 1821 at St Helena.

Historically, Napoleon was exiled to St Helena in 1815, just after his defeat by the British at the Battle of Waterloo. He died there six years later.

Meanwhile, Osenat itself is an auction house famous for the sale of objects from the French monarchy and empire. The auction house had several high-value items for sale, including a preparatory sketch by Jacques-Louis David, which made a famous painting of Napoleon's coronation by Pope Pius VII.