Gilt silver fish with polychrome enamels, Vienna, 19th century

Description: Fish with Neptune supported by a support and oval base, surface entirely painted with polychrome enamels depicting mythological scenes. Punched with the monogram "FR", proof of tax paid (notstempel-frei, freistempel) in 1809-10. On December 19, 1809, the authorities put into effect the tax on the delivery of silver to the appropriate redemption offices to combat the state's indebtedness resulting from the war against France. Only if the metal could be paid for by the owner in conventional money would it not be subject to this regulation. In these cases the object was marked with the monogram "FR". Since only a few large goldsmiths and silversmiths could afford to pay such a tax, a large number of silver objects of high historical and artistic value were melted down. The notstempel-frei, freistempel was used in 1809-10 for those objects that did not have to be delivered to the redemption offices. Punched with the letter "A", small guarantee for silver objects in use in Vienna from 1807 to 1866. Dimensions: HxLxW 26.5cm x 28.0cm x 8.0cm Provenance: Private collection Conditions: Missing parts and defects. Breakages. Restorations.