Objekt 3152
Reliquary Bust of Saint Pantalus
Description
The reliquary originally held the skull of Basel’s legendary first bishop, who having accompanied Saint Ursula on her pilgrimage to Cologne was among those to be murdered there by the Huns. The relic was taken from Cologne to Basel in 1270 and this bust made to hold it soon after. The bishop’s finely drawn beard and wide open eyes are especially striking. The signs of wear on the shoulders indicate that the bust must have been well used in the liturgy. The eyelets on the reverse were presumably for affixing a robe.
Object description
Head and mitre: gilded silver with paint, glass, precious stones, and pearls.
Shoulders, lions, and lappets: gilded copper
Basel (?), after 1270
1882.87.
From the portion allotted to Canton Basel-Stadt