Napoleon's saber sold at auction for more than €4.6 million

A rare saber belonging to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte has been sold at auction in Paris for more than €4.6 million. This was announced on May 23 by the BFMTV channel.

The saber, ordered by Bonaparte in 1802-1803, when he served as first consul, was sold at auction for an almost record amount among other Napoleonic artifacts. The auction took place on May 22 at the Paris auction house Drouot.

According to the TV channel, the item was initially estimated at between 700,000 euros and 1 million euros, but eventually went under the hammer for 4,663,900 euros. The unique weapon belonged to Napoleon until the end of his reign, after which it was transferred to one of his closest associates, the last marshal of the Napoleonic French Empire, Emmanuel de Grouche. Since then, the saber has been kept in the family of the military commander's descendants. Later, a second, identical copy was made, which is now kept in the Hermitage.

Auctioneer Alexander Zhiquello described the lot in a press release from the auction house as "an object located at the junction of art, history and power." According to him, this saber is a true masterpiece with impeccable provenance, something "that major collectors are looking for."

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The Associated Press (AP) reported on May 22 that the bloodstained gloves of the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln, which were in his pocket on the evening of his assassination, were sold at auction for $ 1.5 million. It is noted that the historical artifact was put up for auction among 144 related items, 136 of which were sold.