MADE FOR NAPOLEON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 9

MADE FOR NAPOLEON

HISTORIC TABLE IS SOLD BY AUCTION BOUGHT BACK BY FRANCE Times Cable LONDON, Wednesday. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says a collection of antiques belonging to Prince de la Moskowa, a descendant of Marshal Ney, was auctioned there today. Sir Joseph Duveen secured the most important article for £3,225. It consists of a table constructed of bronze and porcelain to the order of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, immediately after the battle of Austerlitz, to commemorate his victory over the Russians and Austrians. The top is inlaid with miniatures of Napoleon and all his marshals. When the auctioneer disclosed the purchaser’s name, the Napoleonic Museum authorities entered a caveat under a French law, w-hicli prevents the owners from parting with the table until the State has been given a fortnight’s opportunity to buy the table at the auction price. The Government has since exercised its legal right of pre-emption, and the table will go to the Napoleonic Museum at Malmaison. The fourth Prince de la Moskowa was born in IS7O, and w r as in the 12th Regiment of Dragoons. He married in IS9S Princess Eugenie Bonaparte.