- Lot 228

Lot n° 228
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Estimation :
40000 - 60000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 47 500EUR
- Lot 228
RARISSIVE AND UNIQUE FLAG OF THE GRENADIERS OF THE NAPOLEON BATTALION ON THE ISLAND OF ELBOW (1814) Biface, in white silk with scarlet band. Obverse embroidered in crimson silk threads "GRENADIERS" "BATAILLON NAPOLEON", and on the band of three imperial bees in ivory, yellow and beige threads. Reverse side embroidered with the number "N" under a crown in yellow silk threads. Traces of studding at the shaft, in edge. Presented on a light blue satin background, with cartouche, under glass, in a pivoting two-sided frame in wood and gilded stucco decorated with laurel leaves and palmettes. Mounted on a bulbous gilded and painted marble base, enriched with stars, decorated with acanthus leaves and water leaves. Rectangular base painted in trompe l'oeil in imitation of marble, with the number "N" of the Emperor in a crown of golden laurel over a frieze of acanthus leaves. Size of the flag : 80 x 90 cm. Total height with display stand : 2m45. A.B.E. 1814 (traces of use, wear, resumptions and tasks). Provenance: Collections of the Napoleonic Museum of the Princely Palace of Monaco. Private collection History: On the island of Elba, Napoleon was also waiting for a squadron of Polish horse-lighters discharged from the French service and the detachment of the old guard that the treaty of Fontainebleau allowed him to have on the island of Elba. These troops disembarked on May 28, 1814. The grenadiers and chasseurs formed a battalion of 607 men (including officers), called the Napoleon Battalion under the command of Colonel MALLET. The Poles, who included a few mamelukes and chasseurs à cheval of the guard, were divided into two companies, one on horseback, with 22 men, the other on foot, with 96 men, the latter intended for the service of the pieces. Three times a week the Napoleon battalion exercised, with the music at its head: it also attended the great review which took place every Sunday on the place d'armes. At these reviews, Napoleon demanded the greatest regularity in the exercises and maneuvers. A rigorous discipline was established, in order to prevent punishments; also the chiefs had only to praise the conduct of each soldier during their stay on the island of Elba. Related piece : Our flag must be associated with that of the Polish Light Horse that accompanied the Emperor to Elba. Preserved in the Museum of the Army, this flag, slightly smaller than ours, is the same model on the obverse and reverse. Only the obverse inscriptions are modified, which is normal, knowing that they are the emblems of two distinct units. The flag of the Museum of the Army is embroidered on the obverse "CHEVAU-LEGERS POLONAIS" "ESCADRON NAPOLEON". It comes from a gift of the NEY family of ELCHINGEN in 1929. There is a third flag, also preserved in the Museum of the Army, always with the same model, but without inscriptions on the obverse. It would be the personal flag of the Emperor, offered by the descendants of Commissioner CAMPBELL. It has kept its pike, its pike and its tie. The catalogue of the Musée de l'Armée gives us additional information on these flags: they were made in Naples in May 1814, their poles were painted in white and crimson spirals, topped by simple pikes with ties. Bibliography: Pierre CHARRIE, " Drapeaux et etendards de la Révolution et de l'Empire ", Copernic, 1982, p.188 and 189.
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