Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte, an early-19th century French silver-gilt table knife and fork,

by Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764-1843), Paris Marks for 1809-1819, circa 1810,

the tapering knife handle with a profile of Minerva, palmette and husk motifs, bees and the imperial arms of Napoleon, also with an N in a roundel with laurel wreath mantling, steel blade, the four tined fork with palmette and foliate decoration, the reverse of the stem with a bull's head, a classical maiden and the imperial arms of Napoleon, length of knife 26.6cm, length of fork 21.3cm, approx. weight of fork 3.2oz.

Provenance:

Alfred William Weston (1892-1950)

The knife and fork were purchased by him in the 1920s/1930s.

Then passed down to his daughter and then inherited by her godson, the current owner.

In 1928 Alfred Weston was a businessman, entrepreneur and illustrator who was employed by John Logie Baird and his business partner Captain Oliver Hutchinson to edit 'Television: The world's first television journal'. His papers were sold at Bonhams, London, Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs, 7 June 2011, lot 185.

Martin Guillaume Biennais was the main supplier of silver and silver-gilt to Napoleon and his family, and he supplied the Emperor's crown and sceptre for the 1804 coronation.

A knife from this service was sold at Christie's, New York, The C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love Collection: Magnificent, 19 October 2004, lot 158.

Other items from Napoleon's service have appeared at auction including the Property of Madame Tussauds, which was sold at Christie's, South Kensington, 13 December 2005.

Another knife from the service is in the Royal Collection, (RCIN48460)

for further reading on the knife in the Royal collection see www.rct.uk/collection/search#/1/collection/48460/knife.