We are now looking at one of the museum’s crown jewels. These figures depict Napoleon’s grenadiers, who are soldiers specialized in handling and throwing hand grenades. They were so highly regarded that the emperor made them his own personal guard.

These pieces are significant because of their age, manufacturer, and provenance. These figures date from the early 19th century and were made by a French manufacturer named Lucotte, the first maker of three-dimensional lead soldiers. Engraved on the base of the figure is a “little bee.” This detail suggests that these figures most likely belonged to Napoleon’s son, the future King of Rome, since Napoleon chose the bee as his imperial emblem.