The black bicorne beaver felt hat was initially estimated at between €600,000-€800,000. The price reached surpassed the €1.884m paid for another of Napoleon's hats in 2014, also sold by the Drouot auction house, a spokesperson for the company said.
The hat is one of 20 remaining out of 120 the French military commander is believed to have owned in his lifetime.
The price reached is thought to have been inflated by the hype surrounding the release this month of Ridley Scott's Napoleon biopic, starring Joaquin Phoenix.
One of the most recognisable brands in history, which has endured since his death more than 200 years ago, Napoleon donned the hat sideways to ensure he was distinguishable on the battlefield.
This story is from the November 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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