Bonhams Sells Napoleon Death Mask for £169,250 at Knightsbridge Auction
A cast of the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte sold for £169,250 at Bonhams Book, Map and Manuscript sale in Knightsbridge, London. It exceeded the estimate of £40,000-60,000. The 'Boys cast' was made for the Rev Richard Boys, Senior Chaplain of St Helena, shortly after Napoleon's death on 5 May 1821 and carries his autograph authentication note. It was consigned by Andrew Boys, a direct descendant of the original owner's brother, and is one of the few examples with direct provenance to the island remaining in private hands.
The Signal
The result highlights sustained collector demand for objects with documented historical provenance tied to major figures. With most comparable casts now held in French or Corsican national collections, the sale underscores the premium placed on verified private examples of funerary artifacts from the pre-photographic era. The outcome may inform valuation strategies for similar relics entering the market through family dispersals.
- People: Napoleon Bonaparte, Richard Boys, Andrew Boys
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: London
- Prices: £169,250
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