Work on aluminium received the generous support of the French Emperor Napoleon III. Even before the scientist Sainte-Claire Deville began his first experiments on aluminium production, the emperor granted him an unlimited subsidy for conducting his work. Sainte-Claire Deville used 36,000 francs (in comparison, the average annual income of an ordinary family was 1,500-2,000 francs during these years).

The emperor’s interest in silver from clay was explained by his desire to use aluminium for making weapons, helmets, armor, and other equipment for the French army. Napoleon III ordered the eagles adorning the poles of standards to be made of aluminium. They resembled silver in outward appearance yet weighed a lot less, as aluminium has much smaller density.  

 

 

You can learn more about "silver from clay" from the chapter "Applications of Aluminium in the 19th Century" of the encyclopedic edition "Aluminium. Thirteenth element".