TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026 
In 1812, Oudinot, then aged 45 and already the father of six children, married Eugénie de Coucy, who came from an old aristocratic family and was close to the royal court. In 1816, she became a lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Berry. This emblematic union thus brought together the old French nobility and the new military aristocracy established under Napoleon.
The collection is also distinguished by the myriad precious stones adorning its sumptuous jewels. On the occasion of her marriage, Eugénie received an impressive wedding gift collection comprising necklaces, earrings, combs and diamond ornaments. Some of the jewels are believed to have prestigious origins, including a strand of diamonds said to have come from a snuffbox belonging to Emperor Alexander of Russia.
According to family tradition, a prestigious emerald and diamond demi-parure was presented to Eugénie by Napoleon as a wedding gift, although this provenance has not been confirmed. This dazzling lot, accompanied by a matching pair of pendant earrings, is estimated at €120,000–150,000. Yet behind the brilliance of these precious stones lies a more poignant story. In her notebooks, Eugénie reveals that she was forced to part with the first half of her diamonds in 1815, and the remainder in 1830, to cope with the financial difficulties of those turbulent years.
Spanning the Imperial era and the advent of the Bourbon Restoration, this collection tells the story of an influential couple and illustrates both the social ascent and the hardships of a family caught up in the political upheavals of its time.
The Marshal Oudinot Collection: The Laurels of Glory
O n Tuesday, November 17, Rémy Le Fur will auction an exceptional collection of personal and historical objects tracing the history of Marshal Oudinot and his wife, Eugénie. Preserved by the family since their original acquisition and passed down from generation to generation, these imperial jewels, presentation swords, decorations and ceremonial garments bear witness to the couple’s prestige, their rise in society, their relationships with the leading figures of their time and their family history.
Nicknamed the “Modern Bayard” by Napoleon I, Marshal of the Empire Nicolas-Charles Oudinot enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence, becoming a major figure in French political and military life. Following Napoleon’s downfall, he continued his career under the Bourbon Restoration, notably serving as Minister of State and Governor of Les Invalides.
At the heart of this collection of memorabilia are two swords belonging to Marshal Oudinot, dating from the First Empire, which still retain all the splendour of his distinguished honours. The first, in an antique style, features a mother-of-pearl handle and an intricately chiselled guard. Estimated at €120,000–150,000, it was worn with his full ceremonial uniform. The second, lavishly adorned with gold, diamonds and lapis lazuli, was presented to him by the City of Amsterdam. It is estimated at €400,000–500,000. His ceremonial uniform and collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit, estimated at €20,000–30,000, complete this remarkable ensemble.
At the heart of this collection of memorabilia are two swords belonging to Marshal Oudinot, dating from the First Empire, which still retain all the splendour of his distinguished honours. The first, in an antique style, features a mother-of-pearl handle and an intricately chiselled guard. Estimated at €120,000–150,000, it was worn with his full ceremonial uniform. The second, lavishly adorned with gold, diamonds and lapis lazuli, was presented to him by the City of Amsterdam. It is estimated at €400,000–500,000. His ceremonial uniform and collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit, estimated at €20,000–30,000, complete this remarkable ensemble.
In 1812, Oudinot, then aged 45 and already the father of six children, married Eugénie de Coucy, who came from an old aristocratic family and was close to the royal court. In 1816, she became a lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Berry. This emblematic union thus brought together the old French nobility and the new military aristocracy established under Napoleon.
The collection is also distinguished by the myriad precious stones adorning its sumptuous jewels. On the occasion of her marriage, Eugénie received an impressive wedding gift collection comprising necklaces, earrings, combs and diamond ornaments. Some of the jewels are believed to have prestigious origins, including a strand of diamonds said to have come from a snuffbox belonging to Emperor Alexander of Russia.
According to family tradition, a prestigious emerald and diamond demi-parure was presented to Eugénie by Napoleon as a wedding gift, although this provenance has not been confirmed. This dazzling lot, accompanied by a matching pair of pendant earrings, is estimated at €120,000–150,000. Yet behind the brilliance of these precious stones lies a more poignant story. In her notebooks, Eugénie reveals that she was forced to part with the first half of her diamonds in 1815, and the remainder in 1830, to cope with the financial difficulties of those turbulent years.
Spanning the Imperial era and the advent of the Bourbon Restoration, this collection tells the story of an influential couple and illustrates both the social ascent and the hardships of a family caught up in the political upheavals of its time.
