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.
Basle, ca. 1500 – Silver, parcel gilt, wildman figures cast in the round – diameter 15.2 cm – Inv. 1875.78.
The escutcheon of Basle supported by male and female woodhouses is set in a strongly …
Possibly Hans Meyer I, known as Stempfer, Basle, 1553 – Silver, parcel gilt, engraved – Basle crosier of black cement – height 9.4 cm, depth 3.8 cm, length with chain and rosette 26 cm – Inv. 1870.891.
A small stone figure in the inner court of the Basle town hall shows us what a C16 Basle …
Basle, 16th/17th century – Cast bronze – larger vessel: height 20 cm, diameter 37 cm – smaller vessel: height 10 cm, diameter 27 cm – Inv. 1906.2838 – Inv. 1906.2839.
Cereals - always referred to in Basle sources up until 1798 as 'Frucht' (fruit) - were the …
Basle, 18th century – Cast bronze, turned oak – height 7 cm, diameter of opening 7.5 cm – Inv. 1906.2848.
Up until the C19 there were dozens of different counting systems in use for weights and …
dated 1753 – Basle – Cast bronze – height 56 em, diameter at widest part40 cm, diameter at neck 14 cm – Inv. 1906.2851.
Since the Middle Ages wine had been subject to several taxes, two of which were especially …
signed and dated 1847 – Friedrich Mahly, Basle Coloured lithography – height 61.7 cm, width 84 cm – Inv. 1901.108.
Mahly's plan is topographically correct, but also has the merit of following the ground …
Basle, 17th/18th century – Box: walnut; balls: ivory, ebony and silver – bags: leather and cloth – height of box 20.4 cm, length 26.1 cm, depth 26 cm – Inv. 1880.103.
In 1691 the people of Basle rose up in an attempt to break the power of the oligarchy of …
Basle, 17th century (the smallest weight does not belong to the set) Cast bronze – height with handle 13 cm – diameter of lid 8.4 cm – Inv. 1905.365.
Nests such as this consist of cup shaped weights usually made of bronze or brass that fit …
14th century, hilt 16th century – Forged steel – overall length 123.5 cm, length of blade 93.5 cm, width of root of blade 7.1 cm – Inv. 1870.529.
In the Middle Ages supreme secular jurisdiction was wielded by the king or the emperor, …
dated 1687 – Reinhard Siegfried, Basle Forged iron – cast brass, scale painted on – length 440 cm – Inv. 1874.124.
The longer arm is marked with the scale and the running weight can be pushed to and for …
Probably Basle, ca. 1300 – Brass – marginal inscription in Gothic capitals: t S' PISTORVM DE BASILEA – diameter 3.5 cm – Inv. 1892.44.
The guild of 'Brotbecken' (bread bakers) included not only bakers who sold their wares in …
North west Switzerland, 18th century – Beech, iron – height I1 cm, diameter 20 cm – Inv. 1898.294.
The right to determine and oversee weights and measures was closely linked with sovereignty …
Basle, C16/17 – Fired clay – length 12.5 15.5 cm – Inv. 1920.308/309. and 1921.36.
Because of the city's geographical location at the intersection of established trade …
Johann Ulrich Fechter III, Basle, between 1755 and 1762 – igure of justice and pedestal probably late C16 – Silver, cast, gilt and engraved, with ebony – overall length 151 cm, length of top 40 cm – Inv. 1870.1151.
During his period of office 'Oberstknecht' (chief magistrate) Isaak Merian (1700-1762, in …
Probably Basle, ca. 1360 (first definite record: 27 April 1361) Silver, parcel gilt – marginal inscription in Gothic capitals: * SIGILLVM * CIVIVM * BASILIENSIVM * diameter 8.22 cm – Inv. 1936.125.
The first decades of the C13 were a period of political and economic improvement for Basle. …
dated 1779 Basle – Red sandstone – height above ground 90 cm, width 48 cm, depth 33 cm – Inv. 1949.300.
Although boundaries were marked with stones as far back as the late Middle Ages, many …
Probably Constance, ca. 1260/70 (first definite record: 15/23 August 1277) Brass – marginal inscription in Gothic capitals: "S'CONVENT.SOR'.VALLIS SCE.KATHARINE. PPE.DIEZENHOVEN – height 6.3 cm, width 4.3 cm – Inv. 1903.239.
The former Dominican convent of St. Katharinenthal, a jewel of Baroque architecture, lies …
dated 1516 Probably Basle – Silver, holder new – inscription in Late Gothic minuscule: "S"alme"universitatis'Study' basiliensis'1516' diameter 5.15 cm – Inv. 1973.218.
This matrix replaced an older one with the same motif dating from the time of the …
Probably Basle, ca. 1455 (first record: 24 May 1458) Bronze – marginal inscription in Gothic minuscule: s. poris + guent9. uallis bte. mar I garetei basilea ord9. cartusien – height 6.3 cm, width 3.8 cm – Inv. 1936.129.
The Carthusian order founded in 1084 by St Bruno combined a strict solitary life with …
dated 1781, Basle – Cast bronze – heights with ring socket 35 and 28 cm, diameters 19 and 14 cm – Inv. 1877.20.
When on 12 March 1373 the bishop accorded the town the right to levy tolls and to control …
Basle, 14th/15th century – Red sandstone (top comers broken off) height above ground 140 cm, width 54 cm, depth 36 cm – Inv. 1900.49.
In judgements issued by the city of Basle up to the end of the Middle Ages there are …
Probably Basle, end 15th century – holder new – Silver – inscription in Gothic minuscule: f : S : f facultatis f iuridice f [coat of arms] f studij f basilien – diameter 4.85 cm – Inv. 1973.224.
The seal was used by the Dean of the Faculty of Law to authenticate official documents. In …
dated 1669, Basle – Turned, carved walnut (probably darkened later) larger vessel: height 11 cm, diameter across top 9.5 cm – smaller vessel: height 8.5 cm, diameter across top 8.3 cm – Inv. 1877.23.a.b.
These two tumbler shaped dry measures were for measuring grain, flour or dried fruit. When …
Probably Basle, 1570/71 – Silver, steel holder – inscription in Baroque capitals: ' SIGIL : " FACV LTAT' MEDICAE BASILIENSIS' diameter 4.05 cm – Inv. 1973.227.
Between 1450 and 1459 twenty seven citizens of Basle had studied at Erfurt, and when Basle …
Probably Basle, 1460 – Silver, new brass head – marginal inscription in Gothic minuscule: S facultatis : artium : studii : basiliensis – diameter 4.8 cm – Inv. 1973.228.
The main difference between the medieval and the modern university was the existence of a …
Basle, 16th century – Table top: walnut – supports and cross rail: beech – length 208 cm, width 84 cm – Inv. 1870.893.
Three tables of Roman figures have been inlaid on the surface of the table; they have the …
Abel Handmann, Basle – Silver, chased – height 14 cm, width 10.5 cm – Inv. 1891.85.
The impressive collection of old official insignia from Basle ends with three silver badges …
one dated 8 March [15]94 Basle – Probably maple – length 15.5 20 cm – Inv. 1870.895.a. d.
Notched sticks fulfilled a function similar to that of written receipts in transactions …
Place of manufacture unknown, ca. 1950 – Bakelite – H 17 cm, W 14 cm, D 8 cm – Inv. 2009.373.
This telephone was originally located in Trimmis in Canton Graubünden, where it was …
Germany, between 1941 and 1945 – Cotton, printed – H 9.2 cm, W 7.3 cm – Inv. 1999.252.
Exactly when Basel Historical Museum acquired this Star of David patch is not known. Since …
Basel Historical Museum
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Reception: +41 61 205 86 00
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