Chimaeras: His Magical Aura

Napoleonic artifacts and relics, objects once possessed by Napoleon, or by those who knew him, or things he might have encountered, or even modern things which look like his possessions, or look like anything to do with him, or not - seem to bear the ability to transfer to others a bit of his magical aura.

This is a corkscrew in the image of a Napoleon hat. A completely cryptic shape to the uninitiated.

And a pencil. The hat on the pencil actually serves a useful function, which is to prevent the pencil from rolling off a table. Napoleon said “Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” Or as Edward Bulwer-Lytton put it, "the pen (or pencil in this case) is mightier than the sword."

Napoleon's image is used to sell a bewildering assortment of completely unrelated items - a boon for collectors.

Cigars - "This brand of cigars is particularly adapted for the mountains or seashore. They cost a little more than others."

Razors - "Today nearly all the world’s Rulers use a Gillette Safety Razor. No stropping - no honing."

Soap - "A N(S)apoleonic theory - if I had conquered the world I should have cleaned it with Sapolio."

Flour - "Milled by millers who are willing to work for an ideal first and who consider quality of vastly greater importance than quantity or price. Flour so good the adjectives used to describe ordinary flour fail to do it justice. It is an extraordinary flour which finds instant favor with those who wish something vastly better than the “average” product of an “average” mill. Perhaps Napoleon Flour costs a little more than other flour, but it is worth it."

This advertisement is for a legal firm. “Emperor Napoleon, we’ll finish off the Brits and be back in time for tea!” (which was presumably the bad advice given to Napoleon at Waterloo). They ask: "Will you have the right counsel when you need it?"

And of course for someone who has succeeded in conquering time - a watch.

Maybe at the root of these persistent invocations of Napoleon is a measure of regret that the genius of this capable man had not been turned more entirely to benign pursuits. Like cards.

Entering the olfactory realm - Incense. In both English and Hindi: "Such a blend, can never be again."

Perfume - The “only personal olfactory reminiscence that we have from the Emperor.”

According to the certificate of authenticity: "The sense of smell conjures up memories, allows us to forget time and unites the past and the present. Scents transcend time and create images which deliver infinite feelings.” This is true.

This item is a little worse for wear - was given to me years ago and I was unable to bring myself to divest it of its caul-like cellophane wrapping. Its a very interesting object, mostly because it was purchased in Paris at Napoleon’s tomb, and it seems to be lacking the reverence one would expect from that place. The ingestion of Napoleon’s image in this case is very literal.

Another opportunity to ingest the Emperor.

The Napoleon Company, which sells imported foods, was founded in 1903. The company trademark is updated periodically, making the image of Napoleon progressively younger, slenderer, and more dashing. This is a perfect illustration of the Emperor’s abilities of rejuvenation.

In this advertisement, the presence of the bust of Napoleon, and his feral emanation covering the chair, seems to turn the seated male into an invisible man. Or maybe they are saying that this is the suit Napoleon would be wearing if he were alive today.