BEAUTIFUL SILVER EAGLE DUE TO THE GOLDSMITH BIENNAIS,... Lot 354

BEAUTIFUL SILVER EAGLE DUE TO THE GOLDSMITH BIENNAIS, FROM THE SILVER OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON I. AT SAINT HELENA. Mounted on a black marble base engraved "The Emperor Napoleon, obliged to have his silverware melted down on St. Helena, kept the eagles to be sent to his family. This one was given to King Joseph" Height of the eagle: 7.2 cm. Total height: 24.5 cm. T.B.E. on a wooden display stand covered with green velvet. History: Faced with the vexations and restrictions imposed by Governor Hudson Lowe from 1816 onwards, Napoleon decided on a symbolic measure which, if it did not bring in the expected cash, struck a chord with everyone. He decided to break up his silver, to sell it at Jamestown. Some of the eagles which served as a grip for the form pieces were reserved and mounted by Marchand on the corners of the two cots. They are the work of Biennais. Mounted on black marble pedestals after the Emperor's death, these eagles were shared between his various heirs and have remained with their descendants since. Others were taken by the Emperor's companions. Second codicil of the Emperor's Will : 5° I bequeath to Madame, my very good and dear mother, (...) the sixteen silver eagles, which she will distribute among the brothers, sisters, nephews (I charge Coursot to carry these objects to her in Rome)" ... The Memorial of Saint Helena by Las Cases: "Small massive eagles surmounted all the lids: this is the only thing he wanted to be spared, and he had them put aside. These last remains were the object of desire for each of us. They were relics to all eyes. There was something religious and touching about this feeling." Related works: We know of other eagles in other princely collections mounted in the same way, with engraved bases of different attributions. - Eagles, by M-G. Biennais, exhibited at the Grand Palais in 1969, under n° 607,608 and 609, reproduced p.217