A magnificent Patent of Nobility, inscribed on illuminated vellum sheets, in a leather binding of good quality and an elaborate case, awarded to Solomon (Shlomo) Parente of Trieste on behalf of Emperor Franz Joseph I, for his involvement in Vienna's 1873 World Fair and for his contribution to its success. Vienna, December 20, 1873. German.
An exceptionally elaborate Patent of Nobility, granting Solomon (Shlomo) Parente of Trieste the title of "Baron" (Freiherr) and the right to use a coat of arms. Signed by Emperor Franz Joseph I, by Foreign Minister Dr. Joseph freiherr von Lasser-Zollheim and by a member of the royal cabinet, minister Adolph Löhr.
Salomon (Shlomo) Parente, was born in Trieste in 1807 or 1808, and died in 1890; son of Aharon Yitzchak Parente from Trieste (1775-1853), a well-known merchant and businessman, from whom he inherited the position of Chamber of Commerce president. Not many details are known about his life except for those documented in this certificate, and except for the fact that Solomon Parente owned the Rothschild Miscellany, the "Rothschild Haggadah" and other important Hebrew-Italian manuscripts during the years 1832-1855, before he sold them to the Rothschild family in Paris. The Parente family members were also known for their involvement in business and banking in Trieste and the vicinity in the 19th century (together with the Morpurgo family).
The certificate is written in black ink on four thick vellum sheets, with initials, titles and important names written in golden ink and in red and blue. The text on all of the sheets is surrounded by engraved frames ornamented with the Austro-Hungarian coat of arms (name of engraver appears on the margin of the last sheet: scr. Carl Gernetl).
The text describes Solomon Parente as president of the Trieste Chamber of Commerce, lists titles which he received from the dukedom of Braunschweig, Saxony and Nasau, as well as his significant contribution to the 1873 Vienna's World Fair (Weltausstellung 1873 Wien) and to its success, for which he and his descendants were granted the title "Baron" and the right to use a coat of arms. Further on appears an elaborate illustration of the Parente family coat of arms, with a detailed and meticulous description of each component. The vellum sheets are bound in an exceptionally elaborate thick leather binding (signed: L. Groner K. K. Hofbuchbinder), with brass-ornamentations on the front designed as arabesques, white and blue enamel decorations and blue gemstones.
Inlaid in the center of the front binding is the Parente Family coat of arms, made of cast brass with colorful enamel decorations. A golden cloth string is connected to the spine; at the end of the string is a large brass medallion with an embossed Austrian coat of arms, in red wax.
The volume is housed in a handsome wooden case, covered with leather on the outside and with cloth on the inside and on the bottom, with a locking-mechanism (no lock), embossed decorations on the margins and brass-ornamentations on the corners. On the cover of the case appear brass decorations shaped as a crown with a monogram "SP" – Parente's initials.
[4] leaves, volume: 39 cm. Case: 44 X 34 X 10 cm. Leaves in good condition, some stains. Damages and scratches to leather. Lacking two brass corners. Defects to corners with no brass decorations. Damages and wear to cloth.