Objekt 2116
Subsidised fire safety
Description
In 1417, one night in July, a labourer set fire to one of the bathhouses in
Streitgasse, apparently as an act of revenge for being sacked by his master.
A vast town fire resulted, which destroyed around 250 houses. Fires with
devastating impact occurred every few years, but after the fire of 1417 the
council decreed that all shingle roofs had to be replaced by tiled roofs. In
order to implement the new building regulation, the council granted all
house owners financial support to buy roof tiles.
Object description
Roof tile with engraved figure of a woman
site: Basel, Haus Petersplatz 17, c. 1510
clay
acquired with federal financial support
Inv. 1940.902.a.