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Lot Essay
Madame Mére
Maria Letizia Ramolino, later styled Madame Mére, was born in Corsica in 1750 and married Carlo Maria Bonaparte at the age of 14. During the troubles in Corsica, the Bonapartes eventually sided with the French and, following the death of her husband, she moved to France in 1793. With the rise to power of her son Napoleon, she demanded, and received, imperial accord, being eventually styled 'Son Altesse Impèriale, Madame Mére de l'Empereur'. Settled in l'hôtel de Brienne, Madame Mére accrued immense riches, to the mild disapproval of the Emperor. Upon his downfall in 1814, she too moved to Elba and is said to have financed him during his stay there. However, upon his abdication following Waterloo, Madame Mére moved to Rome where she remained until her death in 1836. The archives of Maison Odiot indicate that the service was delivered on 11 November 1806. Other pieces from the service from the Al-Tajir Collection are illustrated in The Glory of the Goldsmith, pages 30 and 31.
Maria Letizia Ramolino, later styled Madame Mére, was born in Corsica in 1750 and married Carlo Maria Bonaparte at the age of 14. During the troubles in Corsica, the Bonapartes eventually sided with the French and, following the death of her husband, she moved to France in 1793. With the rise to power of her son Napoleon, she demanded, and received, imperial accord, being eventually styled 'Son Altesse Impèriale, Madame Mére de l'Empereur'. Settled in l'hôtel de Brienne, Madame Mére accrued immense riches, to the mild disapproval of the Emperor. Upon his downfall in 1814, she too moved to Elba and is said to have financed him during his stay there. However, upon his abdication following Waterloo, Madame Mére moved to Rome where she remained until her death in 1836. The archives of Maison Odiot indicate that the service was delivered on 11 November 1806. Other pieces from the service from the Al-Tajir Collection are illustrated in The Glory of the Goldsmith, pages 30 and 31.