Exiled on the continent from Martinique, separated from her first husband, made a prisoner during the French Revolution, a widow, a caring mother, the First Consul’s wife, then Empress of the French, divorcée… Joséphine is a romantic figure.

Milan, year 1805. As the Emperor and Empress prepare to be crowned King and Queen of Italy, the destiny of the Maison, not yet called Chaumet, crosses that of Joséphine.

Entrusted with presenting the Pope with a sumptuous tiara commissioned by Napoléon, François-Regnault Nitot, the Maison’s founder’s son, stopped off in Milan to present this exceptional creation to the imperial couple. Before this lavish present, Joséphine marvels while Napoleon congratulates the craftsman. Nitot’s destiny had just changed. He was elected Joséphine’s favourite jeweller.

Thenceforth, the ceremonial jewels commissioned from the Maison illuminated Joséphine’s figure, such as the cameo of malachite or the intaglio ornaments.

As the Empress of a new regime whose splendour had to be shown, Joséphine dressed in gold, pearls and precious stones. Her tiaras and ornaments evoke symbols borrowed by Napoléon from Antiquity: laurels, oak leaves… A bouquet of ears of wheat mounted as a tiara refines her appearance at her first official ceremony.