French│Empire Collection
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A small private Napoleonic collection in Sydney, Australia
Napoleon
Embroidered panel from Napoleon's throne in the Palazzo Reale
Brodé panneau du trone de Napoléon – Palazzo Reale, Milan
Brodé panneau du trone de Napoléon – Palazzo Reale, Milan
Embroidered panel
c. 1805
71cm diameter
Silver thread on crimson velvet
A round of velvet decorated with the Imperial Eagle and Crown surrounded by laurel branches, with an outer ring of stylised acanthus leaves, thought to be from Napoleon’s throne in the Palazzo Reale in Milan. Napoleon had five ‘official’ thrones in total, four in France and one in Italy. Those in France were at the Tuileries and St Cloud palaces; one at the Corp Legislative and one at the Senate, in the Palais de Luxembourg. The one in Italy was in his palace in Milan, the Palazzo Reale. The four French thrones are well documented and are in state collections in France. The one from the Palazzo Reale no loner exists but may have been similar to the one in the photo on the right which came from the Tuileries Palace. It would seem that this embroidery is for the back panel of the throne, with the design being early Empire and in the Italian rather than French style. It is highly likely that it was on the throne used when Napoleon was crowned King of Italy in May 1805. Two thrones were used in the Milan ceremony, a smaller one and the 'Grand' throne which Napoleon used after he had been crowned King.
c. 1805
71cm diameter
Silver thread on crimson velvet
A round of velvet decorated with the Imperial Eagle and Crown surrounded by laurel branches, with an outer ring of stylised acanthus leaves, thought to be from Napoleon’s throne in the Palazzo Reale in Milan. Napoleon had five ‘official’ thrones in total, four in France and one in Italy. Those in France were at the Tuileries and St Cloud palaces; one at the Corp Legislative and one at the Senate, in the Palais de Luxembourg. The one in Italy was in his palace in Milan, the Palazzo Reale. The four French thrones are well documented and are in state collections in France. The one from the Palazzo Reale no loner exists but may have been similar to the one in the photo on the right which came from the Tuileries Palace. It would seem that this embroidery is for the back panel of the throne, with the design being early Empire and in the Italian rather than French style. It is highly likely that it was on the throne used when Napoleon was crowned King of Italy in May 1805. Two thrones were used in the Milan ceremony, a smaller one and the 'Grand' throne which Napoleon used after he had been crowned King.
