A ring set with a stone cameo that Napoleon discovered on his voyage to Egypt has sold at Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna.
 The ring bears a stone cameo which was found in the ruins of Pelusium |
The cameo was pocketed by Napoleon, then consul, during the "militarily disastrous but scientifically successful" expedition to Egypt in 1798, which also led to the discovery of the famous Rosetta Stone. On April 25, its current owner pocketed $127,521.
The stone was initially given to a well-known antiquities expert, but the emperor soon asked for it back and presented it to his beloved Josephine, who had it made into a ring. In March, the engagement ring Napoleon gave to Josephine sold for an impressive $1.2m.
Also featuring in the sale was a lock of Austrian Emperor Frank Joseph's hair. We have authentic strands of Napoleon's hair for sale, as well as signed letters from the highly collectible French leader.
