Napoleon Bonaparte Life-Size Death Mask – Cast Replica
Replica Death Mask of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France
During the early 19th century, it was customary to create a death mask of notable leaders shortly after their passing. Napoleon Bonaparte’s original mask was cast on 7 May 1821, just a day and a half after his death on the island of St. Helena at age 51. A mixture of plaster was carefully placed over his face to capture every detail, and from this impression, subsequent copies were created.
The origins of Napoleon’s death mask remain shrouded in mystery and controversy. Some accounts claim that Dr. François Carlo Antommarchi, Napoleon’s personal physician, cast the original mould, while others credit Dr. Francis Burton, a British Army surgeon present at the autopsy. Stories also suggest that Madame Bertrand, a close attendant of Napoleon, may have stolen part of the original cast, fueling disputes that lasted for years.
From these disputed moulds, copies were produced in plaster and bronze. Today, only four genuine bronze masks are known to exist, held in prestigious museum collections. Other versions, such as the one housed in the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans, have fascinating histories of loss, recovery, and preservation.
This replica is inspired by the casts attributed to Dr. Antommarchi, whose name is most closely associated with the famous death mask. It serves as a striking collectible—a haunting reminder of Napoleon’s final moments and his enduring legacy as one of history’s most influential figures.
Product Details
Handmade to order – please allow approx. 2 weeks for production
Available in plaster or lightweight hollow resin (slight upcharge for resin).
Finish options: white or gold
Ready to hang or display flat
Dimensions: 34.9 × 35.6 × 15.2 cm (13 ¾ × 14 × 6 in.)
Interesting Fact: Contrary to popular myth, Napoleon was not unusually short. Records suggest he stood 5’6″ to 5’7″ (1.68 m), about average height for Frenchmen of his time.
A unique collectible, this life-size cast is ideal for history enthusiasts, collectors, or as a dramatic display piece. Own a reproduction of one of the most famous—and debated—death masks in history.