Stove tile with depiction of Münchenstein Castle
Basel/Allschwil, 1884 (?)
Faience with blue sharp fire decoration
Inv. 1986.142.

In the display case:
Splendorous plate with portrait of Jakob Meyer zum Hasen
Sarreguemines, company Utzschneider & Co., Sarreguemines (F), around 1880/90
Fine stoneware, overprint, onglaze and gold decoration
Inv. 1991.66.

The advent of trade, industrial and world exhibitions in the second half of the 19th century led to technical excellence in many factories. The magnificent plate from the ceramic manufactory Utzschneider & Cie shows on a rich gold background the portrait of the mayor of Basel Jakob Meyer zum Hasen after a drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger, which was made around 1516 in connection with the painted double portrait of the couple (Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel) and was probably mediated by a reproduction. The border is based on Italian majolica panels of the Renaissance.

above the display case:
Stove shield with coat of arms of the Burckhardt family of Basel
probably Zurich, middle of the 18th century
Faience with blue sharp fire decoration
Inv. 1893.30.

Stove shields, clearly visible mounted on the cornice of a tiled stove, provided information about the client, often also about the time of origin of the stove. Here, however, we can only read that the formerly associated stove was ordered by a member of the Burckhardt family of Basel merchants.

Stove tile with depiction of the handover of the city of Basel to Rudolf von Habsburg
Pottery factory Allschwil, Allschwil, around 1884
Faience with colored sharp fire decoration
Inv. 1986.140.

On December 3, 1884, the "Zunft zum Schlüssel" in Basel commissioned the "Thonwaarenfabrik Allschwyl" of Gerbrüder Passavant to build a mighty tower kiln in Winterthur style on the first floor of the guild house on Freie Strasse. Before that, however, the manufactory was to supply samples for the diverse historical picture program. This picture tile is probably one of these samples. It shows the homage to Rudolf of Habsburg in 1273, who had been elected king in Frankfurt shortly before. The city of Basel can be seen in the background.

Stove tile with depiction of Rebekka at the well
Pottery factory Allschwil, Basel/Allschwil, 1884
Faience with blue sharp fire decoration
Inv. 1986.141.

The depiction shows an incident from the Old Testament. Abraham had sent his servant to find a godly wife for his son Isaac. On his arrival in Haran, the servant was resting at a well outside the city when some women came to fetch water. Among them was Rebekah. The servant asked her for a drink of water from her jug, whereupon she also gave his camels a drink. This was the sign for the sent servant that he had found the right wife for Isaac in Rebekah.