A lock of Napoleon’s hair – which he gave to a British guard towards the end of his life – has sold for £13,000.
As we reported yesterday, it was in a locket that made its way down from Major Thomas Poppleton to be put up for auction.
But plenty of other parts of famous figures have ended up in odd or unexpected places, as NADINE LINGE reveals…
Beethoven’s skull: The composer died in 1827 and fragments from the back of his skull became separated during an autopsy. They are now in the California Center for Beethoven Studies.
Galileo’s middle finger: Snapped off 95 years after his 1642 death, the Italian scientist’s digit ended up in Florence’s History of Science Museum.
Einstein’s brain:
After the scientist’s death in 1955, his brain was removed for study by pathologist Thomas Harvey –without family permission. He dissected it into 240 blocks and kept the sections in glass jars for years. In 1978, it was rediscovered and the segments are now in two US museums.
Mussolini’s brain:
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After the Italian dictator’s execution, the US government took samples to study before returning them to his widow. But in 2009 his granddaughter claimed that parts of his brain were up for sale on eBay for £14,000. The auction site withdrew the listing.
Mozart’s skull:
He died in 1791 aged 35 and was buried in a pauper’s grave in Vienna. His skull was stolen by gravedigger Joseph Rothmayer, but the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg has had it since 1902.
Buddha’s tooth:
After the founder of Buddhism died in 543 BC he was cremated, but his followers kept a tooth as a sacred relic – it’s now on display in Sri Lanka.
Napoleon’s penis:
Lopped off during an autopsy after his death in 1821, the French general’s member is held by the daughter of private collector John K Lattimer, who bought it in 1977. It’s described as like a “piece of leather or shrivelled eel” measuring 1.5 inches.
Rasputin’s penis:
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This 12-inch appendage is on display in the Museum of Russian Erotica. Legend has it the Mad Monk’s daughter discovered a group of women had been worshipping it in 1920s Paris and seized it, later selling it when she needed money.
Jeremy Bentham’s body and head:
A 19th-century British philosopher, Bentham wanted his body and head preserved and put on display. After efforts to preserve the head were unsuccessful, it was replaced by a wax noggin. The whole thing now stands in a glass case at University College London.
Lenin’s body:
The Russian leader’s whole body is on display at his Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow.
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