A travel bag of the executed Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, has sold at auction for a staggering €43,750, after experts estimated it to be worth around €8,000.
The bag, which is made of wood and has a leather lining, has been refurbished to an extent but maintains its original lining. The bag also features an inscription on the top reading ‘Queen’s Room Number 10.’
This is not the only piece of French royal memorabilia that has sold for multiple times its estimation. A serviette embroidered with the royal fleurs de lys insignia and leaf crowns with a bouquet of roses used in the coronation of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette’s husband, sold at auction for €14,500.
Interestingly, it is not only possessions of the deposed King and Queen that have been up for auction. A lock of Louis XVI’s hair went under the hammer for €4,000.
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the last royal couple of France, lost their heads to the guillotine in January 1793 after the French Revolution caused one of the bloodiest periods in European history. The monarch sought to collude with the Austrian monarch to quash the revolution, yet the King was tried for treason and subsequently executed. The death of the King and the revolution gave rise to one Napoleon Bonaparte.
The circumstances of their deaths have meant that possessions of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette have become huge collectors’ items and some of the most wanted across the world. If you have any pieces of valuable memorabilia or valuable collectors’ items, then Ascend can help. Our team of experts are on hand to provide any advice on your insurance policy and are available to help find you a policy to suit you and your needs.
From the MailOnline
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