Raum 102
Former kitchen
Description
In this large, vaulted room, originally separated from the street-side room by a wall, was the former kitchen. Passages connected the kitchen with the side entrance, the maids' room, the former servants' staircase, the exit to the cellar, the carriage passage and the garden. Nothing of the original furnishings has survived.
Object description
Tiled stove
Aarau (AG); dated 1783
Stove maker: Johann Jakob Fischer
Faience, sharp fire decoration.
Inv. 1900.149.
This kiln was placed in a house in Lenzburg (AG) before it came to the Basel Historical Museum in 1900. An inscription on a ledge tile in the center (below the tile showing a man wearing a turban) dates the stove to 1783. The connected letters to the left of it refer to the hafner Johann Jakob Fischer (attested 1746, died 1809). He was the son of the Aarau hafner Balthasar Fischer and a member of the council of the city of Aarau.
Tiled stove with New Testament scenes
Zurich, around 1735/40
Painter: David I Sulzer
Faience with sharp fire painting, sandstone feet
Inv. 1895.14.
The large tower kiln comes from the Burghof in Zurich's old town (Froschaugasse 4). It was made around 1735/40 in a Zurich stove factory. The high-quality paintings with flower garlands, depictions of virtues and evangelists, and 13 scenes from the New Testament are by the painter David I. Sulzer. The multi-line text fields refer to the New Testament images, which begin with the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The depictions of Jesus' miracles and parables predominate; themes of the Passion do not appear.
Table culture in Basel
In the 18th century, the rules of service à la française applied among the upper classes of Basel: At a festive meal, several dishes were placed on the table at the same time. If the meal consisted of two courses, not only hot and cold dishes were mixed, but also salty and sweet dishes. With this abundance, a strict, symmetrical distribution of the dishes ensured formal calm and a representative effect. Multi-part centerpieces or large tureens emphasized the center of the table
In the second quarter of the 18th century, Strasbourg dinner services were especially popular in Basel. People probably ordered them directly from the manufactory. This was certainly the case when, on the occasion of a wedding, one ordered a dinner service with the coats of arms of the spouses. Individual objects could always be bought from traveling merchants, especially during the Autumn Fair.
Festively laid table in the Zunfthaus zum Schlüssel, 1802
Schematic drawing from:
"Guter Rath für angehende Hauswirthinnen", Mulhouse 1827
Circumscription of the schematic drawing:
First essay
stuffed brains - mustard - Servelat sausages - Hammels ribs
Vegetables - pâté - soup - beef - vegetables
baked pig's ears - Rettig salad - Rothe Rahnen - fishes
Second essay
Sauna - Artichokes - Salad of Anchois - Mirabelle plums - Cream - Hard eggs
Tabak's rolls - Young roosters - Cold fish - Game meat - Cakes
Flour dishes - Cream - Raspberry salad - Fricassirter lettuce - Pushed sugar