FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY

The inscription to the back of this mirror suggests a connection to the Thurn und Taxis' that most illustrious German noble dynasty, whose primary seat for most of the past 200 years was Scloss St. Emmeram, Regensburg, Germany. The Thurn und Taxis family rose to prominence around 1500 as they ran the communications for the Hapsburg dynasty, this enterprise would eventually become the foundation of much of the modern postal system in continental Europe. In recognition of this achievement they were granted the titles of Hereditary Princes and given the Benedictine abbey of St. Emmeram which became their palatial five hundred room Schloss. In the early 1990s there was a series of auctions of the contents of Schloss St. Emmeram including almost 8000 lots, whilst the present mirror has not been identified in group sold at this time it is entirely possible that it may have been part of the sale.