Basel Historical Museum has a collection comprising over 250,000 objects. A selection of these is presented here.
The scientists, scholars and collectors of the 16th century and thereafter kept Wunderkammer full of spectacular objects and works of art. Among the treasures presented are some that originally belonged to the world-famous Amerbach Cabinet.
Discover further Swiss museum collections at Museums Online.
HWD burnt on the back, Switzerland(?), 17th century – Pearwood, diameter 18 cm – Inv.1894.475.
The fool, the playful personification of folly, is shown here in the costume traditional …
South Germany(?), end 15th century – Beech, painted – length 13.5 cm, width 7.5 cm, height 4cm – Inv. 1885.99.
Small caskets that have come down from the C T5 are usually carved. The motifs suggest that …
18th century(?) Copper, zinc plated – length 17 cm, height 7 cm, width 18.3 cm – Inv. 1898.11.
"Crayfish tart. Make a crayfish dough, spread it well on a dish, put in a filling of veal …
Signed WF, Basle, 17th century – Cherrywood – height 26 cm, width 33.5 cm – Inv. 1894.371.
Basle's heraldic emblem, the Basle crosier, is based formally and no doubt historically on …
Copenhagen(?), 18th century – Silver; length 15.5 cm – Inv. 1896.22.
Eight sections, building up from the smallest, overlap with enough free play to allow …
Nikolaus Wilhelm Gotz, Basle, 1st third 19th century – Pearwood – height 15 cm, width 23 cm – Inv. 1896.190.d.
The quadripartite pattern, stamped *GOETZ GRAVEUR ' IN BASEL", shows scenes that will charm …
Switzerland(?), ca. 1500 – Stag antlers, wood with polychromy – length 100 cm, height 48 cm – Inv. 1874.6.
Antlers have always been imposing collectors' items and in many instances served an …
Paris, ca. 1840 – Ivory – length 12 cm, width 6 cm, height 1.9 cm – Inv. 1986.233.
Both the lid and the tray of this elegant case from an aristocratic Basle house are made of …
dated 1606 Upper Rhine – Cast iron – diameter 15 cm, length 83 cm – Inv. 1901.19.
A thin pastry with images on both sides is formed by the two plates of this waffle iron, …
GIS carved on the back, Switzerland (?), 17th century – Pearwood – height 16 cm, width 8 cm – Inv. 1892.110.
In the C17 pairs of lovers were frequently depicted standing stiffly side by side in rich …
France(?), 1st quarter 20th century – Porcelain, glass, copper, brass – height 29 cm, base plate 17.5 x 8 cm – Inv. 1992.142.
This type of coffee machine was sold under the name 'Balance' by the Paris department store …
France(?), 1st half 18th century – Cherrywood, brass – height 20 cm, base plate 10.7 x 10.7cm – Inv. 1968.54.
When coffee reached Europe via the Middle East just over 300 years ago, the roasted beans …
Brass, sawn through – diameter 11 cm – Inv. 1877.61.
Hand warmers in the form of two perforated hemispheres forming a 'Wärmeapfel' (warming …
Basel, ca. 1935/1940 – Manufactured by Gempp & Unold AG sheet-metal goods manufacturer – Sheet metal, metal rods – H 36.5 cm; H 52 cm (with handle); dia. 32.5 cm (lid) Inv. 2003.109.
Ochsner’s standard dustbins were used in Basel for half a century from the early 1930s …
Place of manufacture unknown, first third of 20th century – Crocodile leather on cardboard, iron (locks), moiré silk (lining) H 27 cm (with handle); W 40 cm, D 10 cm – Inv. 2010.99.
The fashion for little suitcase stickers which travellers could use to advertise the hotels …
Germany, ca. 1910 – Wood, sheet metal, wire – H 23 cm, W 20.5 cm, D 8 cm – Inv. 2008.367.
Attracted by the bait placed in the inaccessible side compartments, the mouse enters the …
Basel, early 20th century – Aluminium – H 7.4 cm, dia. 13.3 cm – Inv. 1991.251.
This food bowl large enough to hold half a litre of soup belonged to the soup kitchen …
Place of origin unknown, ca. 1970 – Artist: Hans Geisen (1919–1992) Melamine, printed colour film; pressed (Ornamin ware) 18 cm x 18 cm x 2.3 cm – Inv. 2018.33.
Small trays like this one in the home or at the office are an ideal receptacle for pocket …
Basel Historical Museum
Management & administration
Steinenberg 4
PO box
CH – 4001 Basel
Reception: +41 61 205 86 00
historisches.museum(at)bs.ch
