The Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig (Museum of Antiquities and Ludwig Collection) has a collection of Greek ceramics, the quality and variety of which is known far beyond the country’s borders. The museum houses one of the world’s most important collections of Greek vases on around 850 m² on the upper floors of the two buildings on St. Alban-Graben.

Over the past two years, three new permanent exhibitions have been created that re-stage these masterpieces and make their fascination come to life. Their rich figurative decorations open an impressive window into antiquity. They provide deep insights into the world of thought, myths, and everyday life of the Greeks and Etruscans.

Exhibition 1 — Treasures of the Collection and Their Stories
This new permanent exhibition is dedicated to the history of the museum, which was founded in 1961 and officially opened in 1966. Various Basel personalities, including archaeologists, collectors, dealers, patrons, and representatives of the business world, made the founding and later expansion of the museum possible with their enthusiasm for antiquity and their private collections. A treasure trove with around 50 Greek pottery masterpieces will be on display in chronological order in the museum’s largest hall, while another room will be dedicated to provenance research, offering an insight into the museum’s meticulous internal research activities for investigating the provenance of its exhibits.

Exhibition 2 — World of the Etruscans
When the Etruscans reached the peak of their cultural prosperity in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, Rome was still an insignificant settlement—ruled by Etruscan kings. Thanks to rich metal deposits, flourishing agriculture, and lively economic and cultural exchange with other Mediterranean cultures, the Etruscans rose to become one of the most important peoples of antiquity and paved Rome’s way to fame. They are considered the first advanced civilization on the Italian peninsula. Their settlement area included what is now the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and northern Lazio. The new permanent exhibition gives visitors a comprehensive picture of this remarkable culture in six rooms, presenting artfully decorated ceramics, filigree jewelry, weapons, and everyday objects. A particular focus of the exhibition is on the social and cultural changes that resulted from the intensive contact of the population with other cultures of the ancient Mediterranean.

Exhibition 3 — How a Masterpiece is Created
Greek ceramics fascinate with their beautiful shapes and elaborate decorations. They provide an insight into the life, customs, and beliefs of a long-gone culture that produced the most fundamental achievements of the West: willingness to engage in dialogue, science, philosophy, sport, theater, and the world’s first democracy. But how were these masterpieces made in ancient times and what were they used for? The new didactic exhibition presents the diversity of Greek vases and clearly shows how they were made and used. Thanks to the resilience of the fired clay, many vessels have been preserved. Their discovery and the work of the archaeologists conclude a tour on which the exhibition can be discovered in a further six rooms. It is designed for young and old and enables the Education & Communication Department to engage with the topic in a lively manner at the heart of the museum.

https://www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch/en/ausstellungen.html

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