Samovar from the baggage of Emperor Napoleon I, 1815
This is a samovar, a Russian device used to heat water for drinks like coffee and tea. This urn was owned by the French Emperor Napoleon, and was carried in his baggage on campaign to keep his drinks warm. After the French defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon fled and his abandoned possessions were looted by victorious British, Dutch, and German soldiers.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1963-10-244-1
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Conflict in Europe gallery
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1963-10-244-1
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