There is no greater collector or no greater fan of Napoleon Bonaparte than Pierre-Jean Chalençon. He is easily the most prolific collector of Napoleonic material, reportedly estimated to be more than 1,000 items. In fact, his collection, which has taken him four decades to amass, has grown so large that he reportedly no longer can afford to keep it all.
Thus, more than 100 of his cherished Napoleonic items will come to auction at Sotheby’s Paris on June 24. It includes imperial furniture, silver, porcelain, sculpture, Old Master paintings, manuscripts and drawings. Items in the auction provide as complete a picture of the historical figure as possible, covering his childhood, his military career, his coronation at Notre-Dame, his family life, and finally the collapse of his empire and his exile to the island of Saint Helena.
The catalog hasn’t been published yet but from the materials Sotheby’s has released, the top lot of the sale is Napoleon’s iconic bicorne hat, arguably the most prolific symbol of Napoleon’s reign as a wartime leader. Officers typically wore their bicornes front to back. Napoleon, however, wore his in battle with the wings parallel to his shoulders. Its estimate is €500,000 – €800,000 ($571,167 - $913,867).
Another important lot is a a gold and diamond ring by Napoleon’s official jeweler, Marc-Etienne Nitot, that was an imperial gift from Napoleon in 1811. Its estimate is €200,000- €300,000 ($228,466 - $342,700).
In an interview by email, Chalençon answered in a concise and frank manner question regarding his personal connection to Napoleon; his motivation to amass such a collection; his process of curating his collection; and the collection’s historic, cultural and public significance.
Anthony DeMarco: What first sparked your fascination with Napoleon Bonaparte?
Pierre-Jean Chalençon: From childhood, I was struck by Napoleon’s extraordinary destiny. He is the symbol of ascension through merit, of military and political genius, and above all, he demonstrated an iron will. He is this mythical figure, both human and superhuman, he is a self-made man.
AD: Do you remember the very first Napoleonic item you collected? What drew you to it?
PJC: Yes absolutely – it was a letter from Napoleon written when he was still at military school. In fact, it is the first letter by his hand ever known to exist. Acquiring this letter made me realise that historical artefacts have a soul.
AD: How has your relationship with Napoleon’s legacy evolved over time through your collecting?
PJC: It’s grown and deepened as my collection expanded. The more items I collected the more they enabled me to understand the man behind the icon. Napoleon wasn’t just a conqueror; he was a reformer and a master builder. My collection holds a mirror to the extraordinarily multi-faceted person he was.
AD: Can you tell us about the process of building such a significant collection? Was it more about passion, strategy or serendipity?
PJC: Passion is the driving force, but it also requires discipline, an immense curiosity, networking and sometimes, yes, a little bit of luck. It's a lifelong endeavor, carried out with an almost sacred obsession.
AD: Which piece in the Sotheby’s offering is the most personally meaningful to you—and why?
PJC: It’s a tough choice to make. I do like his gold seal, which was stolen from his carriage at Waterloo. It's extraordinary to have found this unique piece, which he held so dear. This was the only seal he used to ratify the most important documents of the Empire. The will is also an interesting piece. It is perhaps one the most important manuscript in the history of France. A man facing his destiny.
AD: Are there any items that were particularly difficult to acquire or that have especially intriguing acquisition stories?
PJC: Yes, there are many and, in truth, every new acquisition carries with it a special story and is an adventure.
AD: How do you authenticate and research pieces to ensure their provenance and historical value?
PJC: I work with leading experts, and I research archives, correspondence and provenances. It's an almost archaeological process. There's no room for error.
AD: Your collection spans Napoleon’s entire life—from his rise as a world figure to his final exile. What insights or contradictions do these objects reveal about him as a man and as a leader?
PJC: They reveal an extremely human character. We move from imperial splendor to extreme destitution at Saint Helena. And yet, the same strength of soul endures throughout. It's overwhelming. But I leave it to future visitors to New York and then Paris to discover some little-known memorabilia that will undoubtedly change their view of the man.
AD: Are there any myths about Napoleon that you feel your collection helps to challenge or clarify?
PJC: Yes, definitely – such as the idea that he was a cold tyrant. His letters, his personal belongings, show a sensitivity, a generosity, sometimes a fragility that contradict this cliché.
AD: Your collection has been exhibited internationally—what has the global response been like? Do different cultures engage with Napoleon’s legacy differently?
PJC: The Anglo-Saxons are fascinated by the romantic aspect of his period as an exile. Asians see him as a military and strategic genius. The French, for their part, oscillate between admiration and ambivalence. Americans recognize in him the man who started from nothing and conquered Europe in a decade. Napoleon remains endlessly fascinating.
AD: What role do private collectors play in preserving national history, especially when it comes to iconic figures like Napoleon?PJC:
PJC: We are the custodians of parts of history the state cannot always preserve, and we share it. It is a mission, almost a duty.
AD: What led to your decision to bring these treasures to auction now?
PJC: The time has come. We must learn when to pass on such collections. These objects must continue to live on; to inspire and I want others to be able to carry this legacy forward.
AD: Was it difficult to part with any of these pieces? How do you emotionally navigate that as a collector?
PJC: History moves on, but Napoleon is eternal.
AD: What do you hope future collectors or institutions take away from these objects?
PJC: They are not just relics, but fragments of a destiny that changed the history of humanity and of a man who is still, today, perhaps the most famous historical figure in the world.
AD: Do you view this Sotheby’s sale as the closing of a chapter, or the beginning of a new one?
PJC: My dream would be for a buyer to come forward and purchase the entire collection. It's not a gathering of objects, but a truly complete and logical collection. It brings together the most important objects from the empire as well as the finest works of art from the period.
AD: Are there still Napoleonic pieces or stories that you hope to discover or collect one day?
PJC: I own all of them.
AD: Beyond collecting, are there other ways you're looking to preserve or share Napoleon's legacy—through books, films, exhibitions?
PJC: Perhaps the buyer of the entire collection will do so, and I will be at their entire disposal to continue this adventure.