Discovering the Unique Napoleon Statue at Merchant Adventurers' Hall in York
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall has accumulated a rich assortment of treasures, historic furnishings, art, and architecture over the centuries. As part of an ongoing series exploring the site's most intriguing objects and historical figures, attention turns to a remarkably unusual wooden carving: a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Exploring Historic Highlights in York
Visitors exploring the historic collections of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall can encounter this rare oak figure, which is believed to be the sole survivor of three similar statues imported from France in 1822. Originally crafted to advertise snuff—a product famously favored by Napoleon—the statue spent nearly two centuries displayed outside local tobacconist shops in Bridge Street and Lendal.
The carved figure's eventful history extends far beyond its retail origins. Having endured decades of changing weather and public attention, the statue survived being tossed into the River Ouse by celebrating soldiers during the Second World War, later being recovered downstream at Naburn Lock. It even spent a night in police custody after being left outside a shop overnight. Today, following its eventful past, the statue resides in a quieter environment within one of the Hall's ante rooms, having joined the collections in 1997 through a loan from Mrs. Thorpe and her family.
Those interested in learning more about the site can visit the Merchant Adventurers' Hall official website. You can also plan your broader itinerary by browsing museums in York or checking out the interactive map view to see what else Musemap (musemap.art) has to uncover in the area.
