help with the following silver filigree miniature box

[eyaeckstei_0]

Any help with the following silver item will be appreciated

[argon38 · Accepted solution]

This could turn out to be really interesting. A quick Google search of "Turf-Karoline" (Racecourse Caroline) brings up two references to the same woman, in the context of 19th-century Vienna:

https://www.theatermuseum.at/en/onlinesammlung/?query=all_persons%3AL.%20Stockmann%2C%20Wien

http://magazine.illustrierte-presse.de/die-zeitschriften/werkansicht/dlf/77516/51/0/

The image above is from a nostalgic 1927 magazine article about Vienna. The text beside the oval picture says "Turf-Karoline": in 1880, Viennese Racecourse Goddess, friend of the Crown Prince - in 1927, a flowerseller."

This could clearly do with a lot more research.

[argon38]

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@argon38 wrote:

The image above is from a nostalgic 1927 magazine article about Vienna. The text beside the oval picture says "Turf-Karoline": in 1880, Viennese Racecourse Goddess, friend of the Crown Prince - in 1927, a flowerseller."

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Just to add that the Crown Prince mentioned here is Crown Prince Rudolf (1858-89), who is very well known to historians because of the tragedy at Mayerling:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf,_Crown_Prince_of_Austria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayerling_incident

[argon38]

Found some more information here:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=meYWAQAAIAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Karoline

Unfortunately it is only available in "Snippet View," so it cuts off before the end:

"Wiens populärstes Blumenmädel hieß Karoline Földessy und wurde als Turf-Karolin stadtbekannt. Die rassige Ungarin mit den schwarzen Locken war 1871 mit 18 Jahren nach Wien gekommen und ergatterte bald darauf einen Blumenstand in der Freudenau. In dieser goldenen Zeit des Rennsports gelang der schlagfertigen, feschen Karolin ein gewisser Aufstieg, der sie auch in das Umfeld der Wiener Theaterprominenz führte. Alexander Girardi soll zu ihren Stammkunden gezählt haben. Ihren Spitznamen bekam sie, weil man ihr die Aufgabe erteilte, die Lorbeerkränze für die siegreichen Pferde herzustellen und diesen eigenhändig umzuhängen. Später verlegte sie den Blumenhandel in Steiners Variete Venedig im Prater und in das berühmte Orpheum in Währing. Während der Nachkriegsjahre wanderte sie durch die Kaffeehäuser Wiens, bis die Inflation sie zwang, sich in das Baumgartner Versorgungshaus zurückzuziehen. Groß war die Freude, als sich zu ihrem 80. Geburtstag einige Reporter und"...

"Vienna's most popular flower girl was named Karoline Földessy and became known as Turf-Karolin. The racy Hungarian with curly black hair had come to Vienna in 1871 at the age of eighteen, and soon after got hold of a flower stall in the Freudenau. In this golden age of racing the quick-witted, jaunty Karolin managed a certain ascent, which also led her into the environment of the Viennese theatrical celebrities. Alexander Girardi is said to have been counted among her regular customers. She got her nickname because she was given the task of making the laurel wreaths for the winning horses and to put them on by hand. Later she moved the flower trade in Steiner's Variete Venedig  in the Prater and in the famous Orpheum in Währing. During the post-war years, she wandered through the coffeehouses of Vienna until inflation forced her to retire to the Baumgartner Versorgungshaus. Great was the joy when, on her 80th birthday, some reporters and"...

[eyaeckstei_0]

Dear argon38,

Wow!!!

It sounds like an amazing story...

My grandma who was born in Vienna on 1908 always told me that it is a very unique item that was belonged to a very special lady...but I've never imigine that it has such an amazing connection to Rudolf, Archduke of  Austria....  It might be a chance that  the mentioned Turf Karolin was even his mistress...

It is very sentimentel for me, but I curious,,, what is its value?

[argon38]

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@eyaeckstei_0 wrote:

Dear argon38,

Wow!!!

It sounds like an amazing story...

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It really is a great item! And great to hear about the family connection. "Turf Karoline" lived a long life and had many admirers, so proving a direct link with Rudolf might not be easy (the crown could simply be a maker's mark). But even the possibility of a connection is exciting.

I would suggest you try contacting museums, and authors who have written about Crown Prince Rudolf. He had liaisons with many women, and he certainly gave some of them gifts. If any still survive in collections, that would give you something to compare with.

The postcard in the first link has some information about Karoline on it. Rudolf's name definitely appears ("Kronprinz Rudolf"), and I can make out a few other words, but unfortunately not enough to provide a complete translation. You could try to get the whole thing translated, e.g. by asking here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/

If the item itself could somehow be directly linked to Rudolf then it would certainly generate lively interest if offered by a major auction house. You should certainly consider having it professionally evaluated for insurance purposes.