In 1882, the director of the Medieval Collection, Moritz Heyne, published a series of illustrations of household utensils from the Collection under the title «Art in the Home» (Kunst im Haus). The objects presented included a pan holder, a birdcage and a jewellery case simple but richly embellished utility objects which were valued as models for the arts and crafts of the time. Since then, the area of the collection relating to everyday living has grown considerably. The holdings of the Basel Historical Museum have been built up mainly from the contents of dissolved households, but also in certain cases, such as the comprehensive collection of lighting mounts, by purchase.
The kitchen from the Segerhof, an intact ensemble with stove, furniture and kitchen utensils from the late 18th century, is a special center of attraction. In 1982 a complete Basle household was taken over by the Museum by bequest of Dr. Edith Stocker-Nolte: it comprises several thousand objects from the early 19th and 20th century, and very adequately illustrates household utensils of this period. The special collection of about 200 clay and wooden baking moulds from the 17th to the 19th century is also important. It includes many examples of good technical quality and a rich repertoire of motifs.
The transfer to the Basel Historical Museum of the collection of the former Museum of Applied Arts in 1993 supplemented the Museum's holdings with more than 500 objects from the 19th and 20th century.
