Inventory of the plaster cast collection of the former Gewerbeschule Basel
In the attic of the former Allgemeine Gewerbeschule Basel there is an extensive collection of plaster casts, which were assembled for teaching purposes in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The collection comprises more than 1000 objects of various kinds, which were stored on meter-long shelves, hung from roof beams or simply placed close together on the floor. Most of them are small decorative reliefs and architectural decorations from ancient, medieval and modern times. In addition, however, there are also some round sculptural pieces; most of them are scaled-down forms of famous works, such as the Vatican statue of Sophocles or Michelangelo's Moses, the original of which is also in Rome.
Also noteworthy are some plates with models of architectural building regulations, which are among the oldest pieces in the collection. Another special group are the anatomical partial casts (feet, hands, arms), which are often also painted. Such patterns were very popular among artists, especially in the 19th century.
Like the other pattern collections of the Old Trade School, the plaster cast collection served various teaching purposes. The casts of door blades, ornamental elements, etc. could be used by craftsmen as models for their own ideas or for commissions, while in the so-called "plaster drawing", drawing could be practiced on the basis of the various models of statues, architectural elements, etc. The plaster casts were also used as a model for the artists.
From the middle of the 20th century, the perspective on plaster casts changed and they were increasingly understood merely as "worthless" copies. As a result, the collections were disposed of in many places, or, as in the case of the Alte Gewerbeschule, put into storage.
Duration: November 1, 2017 - October 31, 2018.
Goal: The goal of the project is a complete inventory of the entire collection (including photographic documentation), the creation of a database, and a provisional catalog.
Project team members: Timo Bertschin