Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria

FRANCE
Napoleon on Saint Helena, pocket watch
Montre de poche Napoléon sur le rocher de
Sainte-Hélène
Restoration period 1814–30
enamel, silver-gilt
Fondation Napoléon, Paris
Donation Lapeyre inv. 595
(ENGLAND)
Locket containing a lock of Napoleon’s
hair given by Mme Bertrand (a member
of Napoleon’s suite on Saint Helena)
to Captain Theed R. N. in 1816
1816
gold, glass, hair
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Dame Mabel Brookes, 1976
In the past it was customary to present locks
of hair to relatives or friends as tokens of
affection. This piece of Napoleon’s hair was
given to Captain John Theed by Countess
Fanny Bertrand, a loyal French member of
Napoleon’s household on St Helena. Theed
was commander of the HMS Leveret, one of
the many warships that patrolled St Helena.
Theed met Napoleon on 14 January 1816
when he was probably given this memento.
It was later acquired by Dame Mabel Brookes
a descendant of William Balcombe, for her
extensive Napoleonic collection.
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