In 2022, the museum received a very special gift: a violin from the famous violin maker Nicolò Gagliano. This gift is exceptional in several respects. Firstly, Gagliano's instruments are among the most sought-after and highest-quality in the world. Secondly, this violin tells the story of a woman who devoted herself to playing the violin with great passion.

However, the provenance of the violin raises questions. The donor, Anne-Marie v. Stürler, acquired the instrument from Henry Werro in Bern in 1962.
But where was the instrument between 1933 and 1945, before and after? These gaps made a comprehensive examination necessary. Thanks to the support of the Federal Office of Culture and the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the Basel Historical Museum was able to embark on an exciting search for clues in a provenance research project.