Empress Joséphine Bonaparte’s Tiaras Are About to Hit the Auction Block

Town and Country

OCT 27, 2021

Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte, understood the power of jewelry and fashion to define her public image. Her ill-fated predecessors didn’t fare as well, so when she and Napoléon came into power, they sought to enhance their regal style and legitimize their new government by resurrecting historical and cultural references to ancient Rome. That resulted in tiaras, jewels, and fashion in a Neoclassical style, a trend that swept through France under Bonaparte’s regime. Two historic tiaras that reflect this Empire style (each with matching jewels) will be offered at Sotheby’s London sale on December 7.

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