A Lost 19th-Century Basel Carnival Lantern Reemerges After 50 Years in Hiding
A rare 19th-century Carnival lantern has resurfaced after decades in storage. Josef Meury, who found it in the 1970s, kept it safe for fifty years before passing it on. The lantern's unusual metal-and-glass design tells a story of Basel's creative response to an old fire ban.
The lantern dates back to a time when open flames were forbidden during Carnival. In 1845, Basel's police banned torches and candles, fearing fires in the crowded streets. This led to a new tradition: intricately crafted metal lanterns with glass panes, designed to hold candles safely.
Josef Meury discovered the lantern while opening a secondhand shop in Basel. He later carried it in the Morgenstreich parade with the Pilzli-Clique. For years, it remained in his care, hidden from public view.
Now, Moritz Kuhnel will bring the lantern to this year's Morgenstreich. He found it through a small ad and sees it as a symbol of Basel's ingenuity. Alain Grimm, an expert on Carnival history, calls the piece an extraordinary find due to its craftsmanship and rarity.
The lantern will join the parade on 23 February, lighting up the darkened city centre at 4 a.m. Its return highlights how past restrictions shaped Basel's Carnival traditions. The metal-and-glass design, once a solution to a fire ban, now stands as a piece of local heritage.
