ナポレオンの妻ジョゼフィーヌのティアラ２点、約９０００万円で落札

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】フランス皇帝ナポレオン・ボナパルトの妻ジョゼフィーヌが所有していたとされるティアラ２点が７日、英国の首都ロンドンで競売に掛けられ、約６０万ポンド（約９０００万円）で落札された。（写真はフランス皇帝ナポレオン・ボナパルトの妻ジョゼフィーヌが所有していたとされるティアラ。英ロンドンのサザビーズで）
　オークションを主催した競売大手サザビーズによると、ティアラは、１５０年以上にわたり英国の個人収集家らが所有していたもので、１９世紀初頭にナポレオンの妹カロリーヌからジョゼフィーヌに贈られたものと考えられるという。
　貴重品や希少品を集めたオークション「トレジャーズ」に出品されたティアラの落札価格は、カーネリアンや七宝装飾、金があしらわれたより華やかなティアラが４５万６００ポンド（約６８００万円）、もう一方は１２万６０００ポンド（約１９００万円）だった。
　サザビーズのクリスティアン・スポフォース氏は「カメオやインタリオが施されたこの厳かな宝飾品は、ナポレオン・ボナパルトの妻としての地位、非の打ちどころのないセンス、古典的な世界への関心といった皇后ジョゼフィーヌの品格をほうふつとさせるものです」と話した。
　落札者については、明らかにされていない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/12/09-13:38）

A pair of highly rare centuries-old headpieces encrusted with jewels and believed to have belonged to the French empress Josephine Bonaparte sold at auction in London Tuesday for nearly £600,000 ($795,000, 710,000 euros).
The two tiaras -- offered from a private British collection dating back at least 150 years -- are thought to have been given to Napoleon Bonaparte's wife by his sister Caroline early in the 19th century, according to Sotheby's.
Both headpieces, each part of a parure -- a set of matching jewellery designed to be worn together -- are set with gemstones engraved with classical heads, several of which are possibly ancient, the auction house said.
The more ornate of the duo -- comprising carnelian, enamel and gold -- fetched £450,600, while the other sold for £126,000, as part of a Treasures sale of various valuable and rare items.
These majestic jewels mounted with cameos and intaglios certainly evoke the style of the grand Empress Josephine -- her rank as wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, her impeccable taste and her interest in the classical world, said Kristian Spofforth, of Sotheby's.
The jewels offered here demonstrate the finest delicate work by the finest French workshops, and, today, there are hardly any comparable pieces in the world.
When fashions changed, jewellery was broken up and re-modelled, making their survival a truly exceptional one.
Josephine Bonaparte was likely given just the engraved gems, which Sotheby's said were a possible combination of Roman examples dating back to as early as 100 BC as well as more contemporary Italian engravings.
The auctioneers believe the jewels were then mounted for her in the French capital in around 1808 in the neo-classical style, citing marks on the crowns pointing to Paris and its famed goldsmiths of the age.
They were believed to endow the wearer with their various depicted qualities such as heroism, faithfulness and love, all while blazing a trail in the fashion world of the day.
By being the first to incorporate these cameos and intaglios into her dress, wearing them side by side with pearls and diamonds, she created an entire new fashion that swept Paris and the world, based on neo-classical forms, explained Spofforth.
No details were immediately released Tuesday on the identity of the buyers.
Sotheby's said the tiaras were possibly acquired from Josephine or her estate by British landowner, art collector and politician Edward Lascelles, and then passed on to his descendants.