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.
France(?), ca. 1825 – Wool and silk – Jacquard woven, twill 2/2: length 333 cm, width 142 cm, fringe 8 cm – Inv. 1954.88.
The original Indian Kashmir shawl was woven from the wool of the Tibetan goat and the …
Paris, mid 18th century – Silver, strass, height 4.5 cm x width 5 cm – morocco case length 11 cm, breadth 5.8 cm, depth 2.5 cm – Inv. 1961.213.
These shoe buckles, which were once owned by a wealthy Basle family, are made of cast …
Basle(?), 19th century – Gold, diamond chips, enamel, diameter 2.4 cm – Inv. 1950.491.
To this ring there is a story attached. It is supposed to have its origin in a present …
Cameo: Italy – setting: Vienna, 2nd half 19th century – Lavastone set in gold, height 4.5 cm, width 3.5 cm – Inv. 1970.183.
Cameo jewellery, usually made from large seashells with banded layers of different colours, …
Basle, ca. 1460 – Wool yam, knitted and felted – circumference of crown 62 cm – Inv. 1981.10.
Unfortunately everyday clothes and working clothes from the distant past have rarely …
France(?), 2nd half 18th century – Leaf: paper, hand coloured etching – sticks: rosewood – length 27cm – Inv. 1888.48.
The Museum has a collection of around 170 fans, including some with precious fittings or …
Vienna(?), 1st third 20th century – Leather, glass, synthetic mother of pearl – height 16.2 cm, width 22.5 cm – Inv. 1992.48.
This evening bag was purchased from a quality leather goods shop, B. Leuthold & Schuchmans, …
England(?), 17th century – Silk fabric with gold and silver thread, silk ribbons – height 9.5cm, width 16cm – Inv. 1969.449.
Women were already by the Middle Ages keeping items for everyday use with them by attaching …
Mathias Wallbaum, Augsburg, ca. 1595-1600 – Walnut with ebony veneer, silver parcel gilt – height 12.5 cm, width 37 cm, depth 16.5 cm – Inv. 1920.150.
Cases for jewellery and toilet articles were prestigious gifts, often love gifts, and as …
Basle, Hans Georg Lindenmeyer (guild member in 1738) clasp: Augsburg, 1st half 18th century – 22 carat gold, clasp enamelled – height 4.5 cm, width 5cm – Inv. 1950.90.
The chain came from the estate of the Basle art historian, keeper of the Öffentliche …
Ca. 1760/ 70 – Silk velvet, applied embroidery – coat: length (I7 cm; waistcoat: length 79 cm – Inv. 1974.472.
This suit, of coat, waistcoat and knee¬breeches, is alleged to have belonged to the clerk …
Sweden, ca. 1980 – Leather, polyester, sewn; iron, chrome-plated sheet metal; plastic – Inv. 2007.394.
Leather jackets like this one are typical of punk subculture. The punk movement first …
Fred Spillmann, Basel, 1979 – Wool blend, cotton cord, linen, felt, tobacco, gouache – L 115 cm, 79 cm around the waist – Inv. 1987.903.
This sleeveless sheath dress called “Le cendrier renversé” – the upended ashtray – derives …
1965–1970 – Plastic – 2008.135.1-4.
These four sunglasses belong to those 1960s fashions that were influenced by the strictly …
Basel, 1955 – Design: Fred Spillmann (1915–1986) Silk satin, leather, glass beads – H 16 cm; H 10.5 cm (heel); L 18.5 cm – Inv. 2003.170.
These highly unusual dragon shoes featured in Fred Spillmann’s fashion show for the …
Probably Germany, ca. 1848/1849 – Walnut, horn – Inv. 1903.60.b.
The knob of this walking stick is a carved portrait of Friedrich Karl Franz Hecker …
Probably Basel, 18th century – Goatskin, dyed green, silk ribbon – H 15.5 cm, dia. 21.5 cm – Inv. 1915.37.
A helmet like this one worn by a toddler learning to walk would normally be called a …
Brussels, 1764 – Probably made by Paul Johann Hess – Ivory on a cobalt-blue ground, glass, gold – H 2.4 cm, W 2.1 cm (picture) Inv. 2006.370.
This scene carved in ivory on a blue ground is a tour de force of craftsmanship. At the …
Basel, 1st half of 18th century – Silk, quilted and embroidered – H 67 cm – Inv. 1901.223.
The emergence of suburbs in the 15th century before long gave rise to neighbourhood …
Probably Basel, 2nd half of 17th century – Calf’s leather, embossed, silk ribbon – L 12 cm – Inv. 1915.228.
These little shoes adorned with blue ribbons were made for very tiny feet. Since there are …
China, 2016 – Manufacturer: Adidas America Inc., Portland (Oregon/USA) Synthetic fibres, various synthetics, imitation leather, rubber – L. 28.5 cm, H. 15 cm, shoe size 42 – Inv. 2017.256.
At various events during Art Basel Miami Beach 2016, Adidas distributed a limited edition …
Basel Historical Museum
Management & administration
Steinenberg 4
PO box
CH – 4001 Basel
Reception: +41 61 205 86 00
historisches.museum(at)bs.ch
