Napoleon certainly saw himself as a 19th century incarnation of the Caesars so such a gift may well have attracted him.
Pauline is of course most well known for the semi-naked sculpture of her reclining on a Roman couch by Canova in the Borghese Palace. When asked if she had posed for the piece, she would reply it was a very warm studio.
Quick witted and beautiful, she was much more than just Napoleon’s sister. She was brave and loyal – standing by her brother when he fell, visiting him on Elba, waving him off as he sailed for France in 1815 and pleading to be allowed to share his captivity on St Helena but the British said no.
Did this jewellery belong to her? We will never be sure. One thing we can be sure of, however, is that she was every inch a Bonaparte.
Graham Bowers
Newport, Isle of Wight
