RELICS OF SAINT HELENA Comprising : a) Fragment of the coffin of Emperor Napoleon I; b) Fragment of a curtain from one of his beds of pain; c) Ribbon from a Legion of Honour cross worn on St Helena. Presented with a black pencil drawing of the Imperial Eagle and handwritten annotation in pen by Valérie MASUYER: "Fragments of the mahogany coffin in which the Emperor lay until his exhumation, a curtain from one of his beds of sorrow at St Helena and a ribbon from one of his crosses that he wore on this Calvary." "Given by Mr Marchand, one of his universal legatees when the ashes were returned to Paris, and framed by Joséphine de Forget at her mother's home, Mme de Lavalette, under the inspiration and direction of Mr Eugène Delacroix. 18th December 1840. Valérie Masuyer Lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Hortense". Black wax stamp with the monogram of Valérie MASUYER. Reverse with an antique drawing of a woman. 21 x 18 cm. A.B.E. Origin : Former Napoleonic collection of the Prince's Palace of Monaco (1st sale, lot 187) Three relics of Saint Helene comprising, a fragment of the Emperor Napoleon I's coffin, a fragment of one of his bed curtain, a ruban of Legion of Honour worn at Saint Helene Commentary: Joséphine de FORGET (1802-1882) was born in Lavalette. At the age of 13, she helped her father to escape. Wife of Baron Tony de Forget, goddaughter of Empress Josephine, she was also a distant cousin and lover of Eugène Delacroix.