MADAM – As a specialist in items associated with the Emperor Napoleon for many years, I noted with interest your report on the gold and ivory ring the young Napoleon gave to Caroline du Colombier (ATG No 2278).
The ring, pictured right, has remained in the family of its recipient since then. Now it is coming to auction for the first time – and the last, if a blanket ban on the sale of ivory is taken up by countries in the EU.
This piece of French history may soon be unsaleable in France and if it were taken to the US, it would no doubt be seized by customs officers who would smash the ivory elements and hand back just the gold to the owner.