{"title":"The Waterloo Collection","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"snuffbox-owned-by-napoleon-bonaparte","title":"Snuffbox owned by Napoleon Bonaparte","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA remarkable snuff box owned by Napoleon during his final days in exile\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn antique snuffbox owned by Napoleon Bonaparte\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOwned during his exile on St Helena, circa 1815-1821\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffered with an unbroken 203-year chain of provenance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lacquered snuff box dating from the early 19th Century, and measuring 5.5cm x 3cm x 2cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lid is decorated with a chequerboard pattern line detail with gold coloured central cartouche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached inside the lid is a silver engraved plaque, which bears the inscription:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“THIS BOX BELONGED TO NAPOLEON AND WAS GIVEN BY MADAME BERTRAND TO LIEUT. HAYNE R.A. AT ST HELENA 8TH MAY 1821”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe box is preserved unrestored in its original condition, with a beautifully worn patina and signs of frequent use.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was captured and exiled to the remote island of St Helena, 1,200 miles off the coast of Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was kept under constant guard by British soldiers, and forced to live in much-reduced circumstances. Tormented by his captors and plagued by loneliness and regret, he passed away on May 5, 1821.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis snuff box, well-used due to his frequent consumption, was amongst the artefacts he left behind on the island. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNapoleon's companion Emmanuel de Las Cases writes in his 1832 memoir The Memorial of Saint Helena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The Emperor, it is well known, was in the habit of taking snuff almost every minute... His snuff-box was speedily emptied; but he still continued to thrust his fingers into it, or to raise it to his nose, particularly when he was himself speaking.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription inside the box states it was given by Madame Bertrand to Lieutenant R.A Hayne on May 8, 1821.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMadame Bertrand\u003c\/strong\u003e is Élisabeth Françoise 'Fanny' Dillon (1785 - 1836), a French noblewoman and wife of \u003cstrong\u003eCount Henri Gatien Bertrand\u003c\/strong\u003e, (1773 - 1844), Napoleon's trusted aide-de-campe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe loyal couple followed Napoleon into exile twice – first at Elba in 1814, then St Helena in 1815, where they remained until Napoleon's death in May 1821.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring this period Madame Bertrand was Napoleon's close attendant and secretary, and was present in his room at Longwood when he died. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer husband Count Bertrand was one of the main executors of Napoleon's 'Last Will and Testament', which stated: “I bequeath to counts Bertrand and Montholon and to Marchand, the silver, jewels, plate, porcelain, furniture, books, arms, etc. and in general everywhich I owned on St Helena.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmongst these personal effects, Napoleon significantly lists “Three mahogany boxes, Nos. I. II. III., containing my snuff-boxes and other articles” and \"1 small box for my tobacco\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn May 8, just three days after Napoleon's death, Madame Bertrand presented this snuff box to \u003cstrong\u003eLieutenant Richard Hayne\u003c\/strong\u003e (1804 - 1874) was a member of the Royal Artillery stationed on St Helena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHayne was also described as being in “close personal attendance” of Napoleon during his exile, and is listed as a member of the firing party at Napoleon's funeral on May 6.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHayne went on to serve in Canada in 1830, and in 1838 became the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery in New Brunswick. In 1898 the Dundee Herald reported that Hayne's daughter had auctioned her father's collection of Napoleon memorabilia at Sotheby's, confirming his ownership of such items.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore leaving St Helena, Hayne evidently passed the box to another British soldier stationed on the island: Lieutenant Philip Ditmas, a member of the 66th regiment 1st battalion. The box then passed down by descent through five generations of the Ditmas family to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThis is an exceptional piece of Napoleonic history with remarkable provenance.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs such, it represents a unique opportunity to acquire a museum-quality artefact and would take pride of place at the heart of any major history collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/238d90e4a0c8\/napoleon-snuffbox-201025\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiscover more about this exceptional piece of history in our newsletter.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFree global shipping. Certificate of Authenticity and our Lifetime Moneyback Guarantee of Authenticity included. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder online, by phone +44 (0)1534 639 998, or via email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Paul Fraser Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45541370331361,"sku":"PT1442","price":45000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1645\/0221\/files\/NapoleonSnuffBox1000px.jpg?v=1721760060"},{"product_id":"duke-of-wellington-hair-in-frame","title":"Duke of Wellington Hair in Frame","description":"\u003cp\u003eA substantial quantity of short clipped, light coloured hair from the Duke of Wellington, cut in August 1841. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresented in a clear container, mounted on a maroon fabric background, beneath the original envelope in which the hair was preserved. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the envelope, the hair was originally kept by a Mrs William Rhodes. The envelope is annotated: \"The Duke of Wellington’s hair cut in Augt. 1841\". \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed and glazed in a modern wooden frame to an overall size of 7 x 9 inches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1841, when this hair was cut, Wellington was just a year away from being made Commander in Chief of the British Army. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSir Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington was an astute and successful commander of the British Army at a time when Europe needed it most. Through his insightful leadership of British and allied forces, he defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe 'Iron Duke' died a veteran of some 60 battles across the Empire, a leading statesman and twice a British Prime Minister. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFree global shipping and Certificate of Authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder online, by phone +44 (0)1534 639 998, or via email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paul Fraser Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46424163483873,"sku":"PT1575","price":17500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1645\/0221\/files\/WellingtonHair4.jpg?v=1746723555"},{"product_id":"napoleon-bonaparte-josephine-de-beauharnais-autograph-display","title":"Napoleon Bonaparte \u0026 Josephine de Beauharnais Autograph Display","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA superb framed display featuring the autographs of French military General and Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais - one of history's greatest romances.\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe two separate ink signatures, signed as \"Bonaparte\" and \"Josephine\" respectively, are both in very good condition, and are attractively mounted together with engraved portraits of the couple.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe display is framed and glazed to an overall size of approximately 8\" by 12\" (20 x 31cm).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNapoleon met Joséphine in 1795, and the pair began a passionate romance. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey married in 1796, despite Napoleon's family's dissaproval of a divorced older woman with two children, and when he became Emperor of France in 1804 he crowned her as Empress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, the pair both engaged in affairs during their marriage, and when Jospehine was unable to bear Napoleon an heir they were divorced in 1810.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA magnificent collector's item featuring two of history's most famous autographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/f6548f62c21f\/napoleon-josephine-autograph-display\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiscover more about this rare item in our newsletter.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eFree global delivery. 28-day returns. Certificate of Authenticity and our Lifetime Moneyback Guarantee of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\" class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder online, by phone +44 (0)1534 639 998, or via email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paul Fraser Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46480917627105,"sku":"PT1604","price":4995.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1645\/0221\/files\/Napoleon_Josephinesignatures1PT1604.jpg?v=1749033732"},{"product_id":"napoleon-lock-of-hair","title":"Napoleon lock of hair","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lock of approximately 20 strands of Napoleon's dark hair, with superb provenance. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe strands are approx. 2 inches long and neatly tied together. They're presented in a wooden box with a glass panel in the lid (containing a further lock of dark braided hair - origin unknown).  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hair comes with the original wrapper in which the lock was preserved. Signed by an unidentified individual (P. Trin?) and annotated in their hand: ‘Bonaparte’s hair given by himself to Miss. E. Balcombe of St. Helena who gave it to me’. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucia Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Balcombe Abell (1802-1871) was an English resident on Saint Helena who, as a teenager, became a close friend of Napoleon during his exile on the island. Napoleon stayed at her family home for the first two months of his exile. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer relationship with the Emperor aroused suspicion in Governor Hudson Lowe, who suspected her and her family of smuggling secret messages for Napoleon off the island. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe officers and servants who attended Napoleon were jealous of Balcombe, as she could address Bonaparte as ‘Boney’ without being reprimanded by him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe later wrote a book about her friendship with Napoleon: Recollections of Emperor Napoleon. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"western\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFree global shipping and Certificate of Authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder online, by phone +44 (0)1534 639 998, or via email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paul Fraser Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48572577349857,"sku":"PT1811","price":25000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1645\/0221\/files\/NapoleonLock_2.jpg?v=1781784840"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.paulfrasercollectibles.com\/collections\/the-waterloo-collection-1.oembed","provider":"Paul Fraser Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}