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The Treasury of Basel Cathedral
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Reliquary Bust of Saint Ursula, 1300–1320 (bust; Upper Rhineland, probably Basel); 1325–50 (supporting collar)
Raised, engraved, cast, chased, and gilded silver, with translucent and opaque basse-taille enamel, translucent cloisonné enamel (émail de plique), and glass, all set on a raised and gilded-copper collar; H. 14 in. (35.5 cm)
Historisches Museum Basel. Purchased with contributions from the People of Basel ("Ursula-Spende"), the Verein des Historischen Museums Basel, and a subvention from the Swiss Confederation
The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Description |
Description
In 1254 the dean and chapter of Cologne Cathedral gave Basel Cathedral a complete head, two arm bones, and other relics of the 11,000 Virgins, who, along with Saint Ursula, were martyred in Cologne in the 5th century. By the late 15th century, however, these remains had become identified with Ursula herself. The stylistic affinity with the sculpture on the west portal of the cathedral supports a date early in the 14th century for the bust of Saint Ursula. The bust was separated from its base in 1932–33, when the Soviets sold it; the base remained in the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.
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