On Friday June 25th, PIASA's Furniture and decorative arts department is organising a drawings and old masters, furniture and decorative arts auction.
Comprising 181 lots, this sale has the particularity of bringing together a large collection of Napoleonic "souvenirs" through the dispersal of a private collection particularly focused on this theme.
It is difficult to escape the current events celebrating the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon I (1769-1821) at the end of this spring. The French statesman, the first emperor of the hexagon, continues to arouse an unfailing interest, which for some, goes beyond the status of the person, and focuses on a whole universe evoking, from near or far, his reign. As the Pierre Rey collection, which accounted for almost a third of the sale, shows, these Napoleonic souvenirs are very varied: military outfits, headgear, weapons, decorative objects, everyday accessories, works of art, etc. This cabinet of curiosities is undoubtedly a witness to an era, and is obviously a piece of French history. A Monegasque personality in the 1950s and 1960s, Pierre Rey was the administrator of Prince Rainier III's estate from 1949 onwards and was also appointed financial advisor to the cabinet from 1959 onwards and president of the sea baths company from 1952 to 1967. He shared with the two sovereigns of the Rock this passion for Napoleon, for whom they each, at their own level, built up collections of remarkable objects.
Sabre de récompense du type des chasseurs à cheval.
Estimate : 6 000 - 8 000 €
Fine ceinture d’officier général type Vendémiaire An XII
Estimate : 4 000 - 5 000 €
