? Levi called Francois Goldkette

rope-dancer & barebackrider

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Old Levi got a goldchain as a gift with the coronation Empres Maria Theresia in 1740 and hereafter he called him and the rest of his family for Goldkette
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History - levi & Louis Goldkette - Aug 12, 2000 View Categories, from "Circus" by Paul Eipper, Viking Press, NY 1931 They are cosmopolities, members of the damous artist clans-the Goldkettes, Strassburgers, Blumenfelds, Konyots and Gaudsmiths-all interrelated and connected by marriage. The family chronicle says: The founder of the family was the rope-dancer and bareback rider Goldkette who, inthe year of 1740, gave a performance at court during the coronation festivites of the Empress Maria Theresea of Austria, and with whose workthe gave the admirable artist caluable gifts. Old Goldkette, whose father has also worked an artist, was an adept in every branch of his art. His star number was a tightrope act, and certain of his tricks, for example, his pirouettes without a balancing rod and the lightness with which he made his leaps, were unexelled. His son Louis was born in Denmark in 1778, and was trained in allongework from earliest choldhood. He was taught to stand on one leg before he could walk. His father supervised his training with the greatest strictness and hence it is not suprising that he, too, became an expert tightrope walker. His real interest lay eisewhere, however. His hobby was ledgerdemain and he was able to do the most extraordinary thing. Famous as one of the best sleight-of-hand performers og his day, he travelled all over Europe in course of liberally endowed with honours and distinctions, for he often so delighted the princes for whom he performed, that they felt impelled to give expression to their satisfaction. When he died, the entertaining and popular conjurer was universally mourned. And in the dossier, among many other entries, I read: It is herewith duly attested that the mechanican Goldkette has spent several days in this place while on transit, that his performances have satified the public and earned its applause and that in general, he and his entire company have conducted themselves with irreproachable propriety

                                                          Weissenfels June 11 1822 The possessor and bearer of this writing , together with his people, whose proffs of identity were established by their passports, remained here during the municipal Schutzenfest, and gave equilibristic performances as well as supporting himself in mechanistic arts. Since these not only afforded pleasure, and, as we ourselves know, the conduct of the company was irreproachable, it has been possible to testify to the fact, and we have been glad to do so

                                                           The Magistracy. The equestrian artist Goldkette, with his family, has given several performances in this place with all-highest consent, in which he won general applause, and leaves this place with the attestation that the moral conduct of the company is worthy of all commendation

                             Liugwigsilust May 16 1831. 

                             The Grand Ducal Court of Justice here established