Two pistols once owned by the legendary French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who had intended to use them to end his life, have been sold at auction for an impressive €1.69m (£1.4m). Crafted by renowned Paris gunmaker Louis-Marin Gosset, the pistols were expected to fetch between €1.2m and €1.5m. Sold at the Osenat auction house near the Fontainebleau palace where Napoleon attempted suicide in 1814, the pistols were recently classified as national treasures by the French government, prohibiting their export. The sale grants the government 30 months to make a purchase offer to the undisclosed new owner, who can only temporarily remove the pistols from France.
The pistols are intricately detailed with gold and silver, featuring an engraved image of Napoleon in profile. Originally intended for his suicide after abdicating power in 1814, Napoleon’s grand squire prevented his death by emptying the guns’ powder. The pistols were later passed down to descendants, along with their original box and accessories. Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat emphasized the significance of selling an artifact portraying Napoleon at his lowest point. Napoleon memorabilia continues to be highly sought after, with items like one of his tricorne hats selling for €1.9m in November. Napoleon, an iconic historical figure, returned to power in 1815 before meeting his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and ultimately passing away in exile on St. Helena in 1821.
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