description Napoleon's Bicorne Hat Overview
Napoleon's bicorne hats were black felt military-style hats worn by Napoleon Bonaparte and closely associated with his public image. Unlike many officers, he generally wore the bicorne with its points extending toward his shoulders, making his silhouette readily recognizable. Napoleon owned numerous examples during his career, and a limited number attributed to him survive in museums and private collections; documented examples have commanded high prices at auction.
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Napoleon's Bicorne Hat ranks #181 of 235 in the Artifact ranking, behind Apple AirPods Pro, ahead of Apple iPad.
help Napoleon's Bicorne Hat FAQ
Why did Napoleon wear his bicorne sideways?
Napoleon usually wore the bicorne en bataille, with its points extending toward his shoulders rather than front to back. This created a distinctive silhouette that soldiers could recognize on a crowded battlefield.
How many bicorne hats did Napoleon use?
Napoleon reportedly went through about 120 bicornes during his years in power. The Parisian hatmaker Poupard supplied many of them, and surviving examples are now valuable historical artifacts.
Was Napoleon wearing a bicorne at the Battle of Waterloo?
The bicorne remained part of Napoleon's familiar dress at Waterloo in 1815. One hat associated with that campaign was later preserved by the family of Captain James William Malcom.
How much has one of Napoleon's bicorne hats sold for?
A bicorne attributed to Napoleon sold at an Osenat auction in France for about 1.9 million euros in 2014. Another fetched roughly 1.9 million euros in 2023, showing how strongly provenance affects the price.
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