Napoleon's magnificent saber auctioned for 4.7 million euros!

Napoleon's magnificent saber auctioned for 4.7 million euros!

On May 23, 2025, a saber from Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned in Paris for an impressive 4.66 million euros. This auction, carried out by the auction house Giquello in the renowned Hôtel Drouot, is one of the most expensive sales of objects from Napoleon's possession. The auctioned saber, which was commissioned between 1802 and 1803 in the manufacture of Versailles, came from the time when Napoleon acted as the first consul.

Although the estimated value of the saber was only 700,000 to 1 million euros, the final sales price far exceeded expectations and only narrowly missed the world record of 4.8 million euros, which another saber Napoleon, which was used in the Battle of Marengo, in 2007. The buyer of the current piece initially remains unknown, which increases curiosity about this extraordinary buyer.

The story of the saber

The saber was bobbed by Nicolas-Noël, the director of the Mushaktur of Versailles, and remained in his possession until the end of Napoleon's rule. After his fall, Napoleon handed over the saber to his loyal confidante Emmanuel de Grouchy, who was later appointed marshal. The weapon was then passed on in the de Grouchys family. Interestingly, there is an almost identical copy of the saber in the Eremitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, which further underlines the cultural value and the historical relevance of these artifacts.

The auction of Giquello is not the last for Napoleon's historical objects. On June 25th, the Sotheby’s auction house plans to auction other objects from Napoleon's possession. This includes a collapsible field bed, a throne chair as well as the sleeves of his consul coat and the ceremonial staff of his imperial coronation in emergency lady, all of which give an insight into the life and power of Napoleon.

market for Napoleonica

The market for Napoleonic is alive and includes a wide range of collector's pieces, from authentic artifacts to less valuable replicas. Many collectors focus on certain periods or topics to specifically expand their collections. Memorabilia, which are close to Napoleon itself, achieve particularly high prices. In addition to sabers, other objects such as hats, letters and original works of art by the auction are also in demand.

scored a hat that Napoleon wore in 1807 at an auction in 2014. Napoleon autographs also belong to a special collection area in which unpublished letters in particular achieve high sums on the market. For example, a letter to Joséphine was auctioned for 410,000 euros, which shows the continued fascination and appreciation for the relics from Napoleon's life.

Overall, the auction of the saber and the upcoming auctions show the continued interest in objects from Napoleon's epochal years and show the cultural importance that these historical artifacts still have. Whether enthusiastic collector or curious historian - the world of Napoleon remains fascinating and attractive.