Napoléon’s collapsible campaign bed: Napoleon

Napoléon’s collapsible campaign bed

Desouches - c. 1808

“The strength of an army, like the amount of momentum in mechanics, is estimated by the mass times the velocity,” said Napoléon. When on campaign, he moved as quickly as his soldiers did, sleeping exclusively on collapsible, easily transportable beds such as this. Commissioned in 1808, it was probably used at the Battle of Wagram. The wooden crate held the disassembled iron rods which make up the structure of the bed.

Historical Provenance - Bertrand family collection