Osenat

A leaf that was once part of the famous laurel crown made for Napoleon for his coronation in 1804 has been sold in France for a hammer price of €500,000 (£443,193).

It weighs just 10gms and measures only 4in (9cm) in length, but this gold laurel leaf is heavy with historical associations.

A gold ring set that was given by the young Napoleon to a youthful love, Caroline du Colombier, sold for a double estimate €29,000 (£25,220) at a recent auction in France.

A gold ring set with a carved ivory scene given by the young Napoleon Bonaparte to an early love, Caroline du Colombier, is coming up for auction in Fontainebleau, France next month.

A portrait by Eugène Delacroix redolent with associations to Nineteenth century French Romanticism has been secured by the Paris museum dedicated to his work.