The Emperor's daughter...

elverno

Or step-daughter Hortense if you will. Though terrible things were said about the relationship between Napoleon and Hortense;
including the speculation that he had fathered Nappy III, no credible historians continue to believe what was essentially war-time propaganda.



This medal is one of a series known to Napoleonic medal collectors as "The Ladies". There were about 8 different ones struck,
some in 1808 and the rest in 1813 and the subjects were Napoleon's wives and sisters. His mother thought it was all nonsense
and no contemporary medals of her exist.

On most of them the legends were in Greek. I've been told that some are actually French legends in Greek lettering but I don't
know either language well enough to verify that for myself.

It commemorates Hortense's interest in, and patronage of the arts and the easel has a delicate picture of a woman on it...

I though I'd put this up for those who thought my only interest in the period was Masonic medals!

cacheman

Very nice....now I'm going to close my eyes because I can't go in the Nappy direction of collecting too.

laurentyvan

This could be my favorite of all the ones you've shown elverno. I don't know whether it's the visual balance or the patina but I find it very nice!

Clankeye

Oh, I love that!

The Palette and the other elements on the reverse almost looks Masonic to me. Was that an impression we were supposed to get from it? Forgive me, I don't know anything about these.

Great piece.

Clankeye

MacCrimmon

<< <i>the visual balance or the patina but I find it very nice! >>



Indeed! It seems Paris had the 'bronzing' technique down very well. Is Hortense known as peu Napette in the inner circle?

1jester

Even the placement of the reverse elements suggests Masonic symbols.

I think it's a beautiful medal, Vern!

elverno

Ah Cacheman, now you know how you and CosmicDebris make me feel when the Goetz masterpieces show up! I was on Jochen Pater's site last night lusting after medals and found myself on the Goetz link... I'm getting to the point where I need another job just to support my collecting habit.

cacheman

BTW, half the bronze pieces at Pater's site are already in my greedy little hands....heh heh. He does have lots of nice Nappy medals too!!

theboz11

Great piece of artwork

nwcs

That is a very pleasing medal. And even more pleasing since I can read basic Greek! The obverse is surprisingly nice. What I mean is that the design seems to work well together and complement the various pieces.

elverno

Here's another from the series. This is Caroline; not Nappy's favorite sister. Both she and her husband Murat betrayed
Napoleon at the end of the wars in an attempt to hold onto the kingdom he gave them.

Still, I think this is another pretty medal, dating from 1808:

laurentyvan

That bull almost fits my mental picture of cosmic Very nice-keep them coming!
Edited to add-I'm refering to the face only!!!

Bruce

Very cool. I am not a medal person, but I like the looks of those.

elverno

Ok, I can't resist! One more before I head home. This one is of Pauline, definitely Napoleon's favorite sister and about as
opposite as could be from Caroline. Flighty, pretty, and not the brightest girl to put on a crown, she nevertheless sold her
prized jewels and plotted constantly to get her brother's freedom. When his second wife wouldn't even be bothered to visit him in Elba
Pauline was getting herself smuggled over...

This poor example suffers from some putz's idea of "cleaning". They whizzed it horribly as you can see. The only upside to that
was that it ended up in my collection for almost nothing!

There's also a noticeable doubling of the strike if you look closely at the beading on the obverse.



BTW Laurent, I'm glad you cleared that up!

1jester

Vern, it still has character.

MacCrimmon

Vern,

I love these "Napettes". How many are there in the 'series'?

cosmicdebris

<< <i>That bull almost fits my mental picture of cosmic >>



So does this mean I have horns or big balls?

Askari

Very nice!! Who's the designer, 'AN'?

elverno

These were primarily executed by Bertrand Andrieu, one of the premier engravers of the Napoleonic era. He produced ten different related medals in 1808 and one in 1813 of Marie-Louise. They're in heavy demand in Europe and very tough to get here in the States. I'm still missing 5 of them and am thinking of picking up some of the modern restrikes as place-holders.

shirohniichan

<< <i>Here's another from the series. This is Caroline; not Nappy's favorite sister. Both she and her husband Murat betrayed
Napoleon at the end of the wars in an attempt to hold onto the kingdom he gave them.

Still, I think this is another pretty medal, dating from 1808:

>>



I learned Greek by reading through a self-taught course. I think the obverse says "Vasolissa Karolini." Or am I giving it the Russian reading of the final "H"?

Askari

Of his work, I only have a pair of restrikes and they have his surname, not his initials. The ones I have are the 1806 Battle of Jena and one with Andrieu's obv. of Napoleon I mated with an Arc de Triomphe rev. by Herbemont.

Askari

<< <i>Vasolissa Karolini >>

Actually the first word is Basilissa -- which is her title.

farthing

Vern - You're killing me man!


I've lost several Napoleon medals to you over the years, now I have to look and lust after them all over again.

I need to find some of those Conder tokens I've outbid you on to assuage my ego.

elverno

Askari, that Jena piece is Bramsen 537; a particularly nice medal in my opinion. The one on my site is an original that some darn fool painted silver in the past. Needless to say it's a place-holder for the future. I like Herbemont's piece; at the moment I can't find the reference. I think it's from 1836-37 and an original strike might be edge-marked on that particular piece.

Farthing, what do you bid under? Is it farthing or another name? ... (I hate it when I get outbid on Conders!)

lordmarcovan

Wow- I never knew these existed.

shirohniichan

<< <i>

<< <i>Vasolissa Karolini >>

Actually the first word is Basilissa -- which is her title. >>



Sorry about that, Askari. We Japanese pronounce B and V the same, anyway. Thank you bery much.

farthing

Vern - I am farthing on eBay as well as here.

I've learned over the last few years that if the item is Napoleon related and you have placed an earlier bid on it I will NOT be the winner.

elverno

I am greedy about these thingies...