Stafford No. 1 / Stadford / Statford

Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

Results: 82 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

BF01: human figure - female?

Scene Description: on the north side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

BF01: human figure - female?

Scene Description: on the north side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- seen from the side the figure appears to be bending her leg at the knee; seated?

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

BF02: human figure - grotesque or fantastic - devil?

Scene Description: on the west side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- the figure has pointed ears, a protruding belly and a tail coming up towards the right behind its lower legs; the upper legs, however, appear to be growing backwards towards its back

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

BF03: human figure - grotesque or fantastic - devil?

Scene Description: on the south side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- much like its companion in the west side, this one has also pointed ears and a protruding belly, the lower limbs sort of folded backwards, while it appears stand on its tail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

BF04: human figure - male?

Scene Description: on the east side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- the figure appears male from the front, wearing long robes that he holds across his chest with his right rand; seated?

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

BF04: human figure - male?

Scene Description: on the east side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- the figure seen from the side which shows the leg clearly bent; is he seated?

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB01: human figure - grotesque or fantastic - bicorporate

Scene Description: at the northeast angle of the lower base, two human-like bodies share a single head

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB02: human figure - grotesque or fantastic - bicorporate

Scene Description: on the north side of the lower base, the two humanoids that share a single head with the bodies on the other sides

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB03: animal - fabulous animal or monster - bicorporate

Scene Description: the fantastic animal seen here on the west side of the lower base; it has been described in several of the sources [cf. FontNotes] as a monkey, probably on the strength of its simian head, not its lower body

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB03: animal - fabulous animal or monster - bicorporate

Scene Description: the fantastic animal seen here on the southwest side of the lower base, showing the two bodies sharing a single head

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB04: animal - mammal - ram - bi-corporate

Scene Description: seen here on the southeast angle of the lower base; the head, but for the horns, is rather porcine, and the body somewhat bovine

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

LB04: animal - mammal - ram - bi-corporate

Scene Description: seen here on the east side of the lower base, in a couchant pose

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

UB01: animal - mammal - lion - passant

Scene Description: one of four -- this one on the north side of the base

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

UB02: animal - mammal - lion - passant

Scene Description: one of four; this one on the south side of the font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

animal - mammal - lion - head

Scene Description: the head and mane of one of the lions on the upper base; this one is on the southeast side, left-hand lion

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

design element - motifs - foliage

Scene Description: a row of leaves or petals all around the curved areas under the upper rim

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: part of the inscription running on the side of the upper rim [cf. FontNotes and Inscription area] -- this is approximately the northeast side of the basin

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: one the north side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- to the right of the head, the text begins with "ROR" but the rest is eroded or unfinished [cf. FontNotes]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: on the north side of the basin [orientation is approximate] -- was part of the inscription text hacked off? was it unfinished?

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: on the south side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: on the east side of the basin [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

inscription - detail

Scene Description: around the centre ring which separates the basin from the base [cf. FontNotes and Inscription area for details]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of base - east side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - north side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - northeast side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - northwest side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - south side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - southeast side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - southwest side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of base - west side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - east side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - interior

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - interior

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of basin - north side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - south side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - southeast side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate] -- the devil(?) on the left (south) appears to have its limbs facing backwards and stand on its tail; the figure on the right (east) side appears seated, or half-kneeling

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - southwest side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate] -- the two belly-bulging devils of the south (left) and west (right) sides; atop part of the inscription, with the flame-like petals or leaves below; beneath the underbowl, a part of the second inscription

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of basin - west side

Scene Description: [orientation is approximate]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church exterior - northwest view

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - south view

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church exterior - southeast view

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church exterior - southwest view

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior

Scene Description: View of the nave, facing east

Image Source: Staffordshire Past Track, Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service [www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/]

Copyright Instructions: Permision received (email of 6 January 2005)

view of church interior - chancel

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - chancel arch

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church interior - nave - looking west

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of church interior - plan

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Image Source: B&W photograph in Bond (1908: 110)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Image Source: 1826 drawing by John Buckley, in The William Salt Library, Stafford [www.staffordshire.gov.uk/live/pdf/archives/fis-lei.pdf]

Copyright Instructions: Permision received (e-mail of 6 January 2005)

view of font

Scene Description: ca. 1852

Image Source: illustration in Masfen (1852, pl.16, fig.3)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Image Source: digital image by Chris Laning taken in 2006

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 30 March 2006)

view of font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 March 2016 by Rita Wood

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 22 August 2019)

view of font - east side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font - north side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font - northeast side

view of font - northwest side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font - south side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font - west side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font in context

Scene Description: View of the nave, facing east

Image Source: [1839?] Staffordshire Past Track, Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service [www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/]

Copyright Instructions: Permision received (email of 6 January 2005)

view of font in context - east side

Scene Description: the side facing the main altar; at the the base angles are the ram [left / southeast], and a human(?) [right / northeast]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

view of font in context - southeast side

Scene Description: at the the base angles are the monkey [southwest], and the ram [southeast]

Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 August 2013 by Juan Antonio Olañeta for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 29 August 2013)

INFORMATION

FontID: 00272STA

Church/Chapel: Collegiate Church of St. Mary

Church Patron Saints: St. Mary the Virgin

Church Location: St Mary's Place, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2AR -- Tel.: +44 1785 258511

Country Name: England

Location: Staffordshire, West Midlands

Directions to Site: Located 25 km N of Wolverhampton up the M6 -- St. Mary's is located in the town centre

Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Lichfield

Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the nave, W end

Date: ca. 1200?

Century and Period: 12th - 13th century, Norman? / Transitional?

Cognate Fonts: Other fonts using lion bases at Elmley, Castle Frome -- other lobulated fonts in England at Wellow (Som.) and Lenton (Notts.) [the latter is lobulated only on the inside]

Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Juan Antonio Olañeta, of www.claustro.com, to Chris Laning, of http://paternosters.blogspot.com, and tp Rita Wood for their photographs of this church and font

Church Notes: church here documented since 1146 (Calvert (1886): "the original church must have been in the Anglo-Norman style, and must have been rebuilt at an early date, as nearly the whole of the present building is in what is termed the Early English style or in the earliest variety of pointed architecture". Restored in 1840s by Sir Gilbert Scott.

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

There are four entries for this Stafford [variant spellings] in the Domesday survey [https://opendomesday.org/place/SJ9223/stafford/] [accessed 16 July 2019] none of which mentions cleric or church in it. Illustrated in a 1826 sepia drawing by John Buckler, now at the William Salt Library. Reported in Lewis' Dictionary of 1831 as one of the most remarkable fonts in the county. Noted in Tymms (1834). Paley (1844) notes this font as having a "foliated bowl". Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports: "in the north transept is the font, a work of great beauty, highly ornamented with sculptured figures and animals". Illustrated in a 19th-century copper plate engraving of unrecorded source, now in the William Salt Library. Masfen (1852) writes: "The font is placed in the central passage westward of the crossing. It is one of the most curious and interesting features in the church, and appears to be coeval with its earnest portions. It is only describable by drawing, being quite distinct from any usual type that I am acquainted with --(Plate 16, Fig 3). It contains several inscriptions: --Near the lions, which surround its base, is the following legend --DISCRETUS NON ES SI NON FUGIS ECCE LEONES. Round the four divisions of the basin is the following imperfect legend, the hiatus in which has caused much perplexity to the curious. +TU : DE : IERUSALEM : ROP........ ALEM ME : FACIENS : TALEM : TAM : PULCHRUM : TAM : SPECIALEM. The Rev. -Rawle, late of Cheadle, ingeniously suggested that the imperfect line might have been 'Rorem mihi das genialem:' supposing the legend to be put into the mouth of the recipient of baptism, and addressed to our Lord. I cannot help thinking, however, that it was something less elevated and that the speaker is the font itself, and the party addressed its donor, who had lately come from Jerusalem ; though I am at a loss to supply the words." Calvert (1886) notes the font as "a curious piece antiquity. It stands three feet three inches high, and the cavity is large enough for the total immersion of an infant. It bears inscriptions in the Saxon character", and gives the texts of the inscriptions mentioning the suggestion by Revd. Rawle to make up the missing text in the upper rim inscription. Calvert (ibid.) does not agree with Rawle's "supposing the legend to be put into the mouth of the recipient of baptism, and addressed to our Lord. I cannot help thinking, however, that it was something less elevated, and that the speaker is the font itself, and the party addressed its donor, who had lately come from Jerusalem, though I am at a loss to supply the words." Geldart (1899) notes lions and dragons. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907): "noteworthy font [...]; its date of the Transitional Norman period and approximates 1200. It is and unusual and massive structure 3 feet 3 inches high; it has a quatrefoil bason, each division of which bulges considerably outwards, and is separated from its fellows by grotesque figures; the bowl rests on a slab of like shape, which is supported by crouching lions and other animals." Cox & Harvey (ibid.) remark on the shape of the inner well, which, together with those of the fonts at Wellow in Somerset and Lenton in Nottinghamshire, are the only recorded Norman fonts in England with a foliated shape [NB: one of these fonts is usually dated to the Early English period -- this quatrefoil shape is quite common in the "Paradise fonts" of Sweden, which are all of the [early] Gothic period]. Cox & Harvey (ibid.) give the two inscriptions, one with a suggestion for the missing text [cf. Inscription area]. Described and illustrated in Bond (1908). Carlsson (1976), after Bond, elaborates on the role and symbolism of these lions. Jeavons (1953) proposes two alternate translations of the upper inscription. Pevsner (1974) comments on the Italianate influence on this font. The entry for this collegiate church in the Victoria County History (Stafford, vol. 3, 1970) notes: "The existence of a group of canons in Stafford before the Conquest is attested only by Domesday Book. (fn. 1) In 1086 there were 13 of them, described as the king's prebendary canons [...] The church of Stafford, like other royal property alienated by Stephen, returned to the Crown under Henry II [...] Although a royal chapel, Stafford was still apparently not claiming exemption from the bishop's authority as late as the end of the 12th century [...] The earlier parts of the present church date from the late 12th century. [...] The college was dissolved in 1548 under the Act of 1547." The VCH (Stafford, vol. 6 (1979)) notes: "The font dates from c. 1200 and is of unsual design. It is of quatrefoil globular shape and is carved with human and animal figures. It bears two inscriptions: 'Tu de Jerusalem ro ... lem. Me faciens talem tam pulchrum tam specialem', and 'Discretus non es si non fugis ecce leones". The VCH entry makes reference to Jeavons [cf. supra]. Drake (2002) describes this font as "unusual for the British Isles", and suggests that the square lower base with the monkey, the ram and the two men "may be a later addition, though it is undoubtedly medieval". This font is illustrated in a sepia drawing dated 1826 in collection of the William Salt Library, Stafford [www.staffordshire.gov.uk/live/pdf/archives/fis-lei.pdf] with reference number "SV.IX.70a (45/8568)", with the following description: "'Font in Stafford Church', showing a Norman font of quatrefoil plan (with bulges at the corners), resting on carved beasts. Also showing part of an inscription of which the word DISCRETVS is easily discerned. Artist: 'J.B.', [John Buckler]". Two other illustrations of this font in the context of the nave (one engraving by Rock & Co. dated 1857, and a photo postcard (?) dated ca. 1900-1910) are documented in the Staffordshire Past Track [www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/] web site. A further note regarding the incomplete inscription: in an email exchange in the MEDIEVAL-RELIGION@JISCMAIL.AC.UK [www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=medieval-religion;daf750a6.0306] [accessed 3 September 2013], John Dillon wrote on 23 June 2003 about this inscription: "The lines are hexameter verse, which rules out the Vulgate; moreover, their versification is quantitative rather than accentual, which though not altogether ruling out a liturgical source does make such an origin rather unlikely. They may come from a longer text or texts, but my suspicion is that they are epigrams, written either for this particular font or for this font and others like it. The two lines that are preserved complete scan perfectly according to ancient rules for syllable length. This sort of quantitative verse was written in much of the Latin West during most if not all of the Middle Ages; in longer compositions medieval quantities often creep in, but in pieces of this brevity complete conformance to ancient quantitative values is not uncommon. So even though the author of "Tu de Jerusalem" is capable of producing a line using 'talis' in its correct scansion by ancient standards (medievally, the 'a' in this word is often shortened), the degree of learning rquired to do this is not unusual enough to assist in dating these texts. A little more help is provided by the fact that both fully preserved lines and in all probability all three lines are also leonine hexameters that work better as leonines when sounded accentually rather than quantitatively. This dual-system prosody, together with the couplet form of the distich "Tu de Jerusalem", suggests to me that the lines were probably composed in the twelfth or early thirteenth century. And thus that they are at least roughly coeval with the font itself. [...] Following Pevsner, a possible reconstruction of the damaged line would be: Tu de Jerusalem rorem fers ipsa vitalem. "ipsa" is probably not what was actually written, but I'm too tired at the moment to excogitate a better alternative." Odd-shaped font with a bowl divided externally in four spheres which rest on a platform, looking like a deformed kettle-drum, although it could be described more charitably as quatrefoil or tetra-lobed; the upper rim side has an inscription in Lombardic capitals, mutilated [or is it unfinished?] in part [cf. Inscription area]; below this inscription is a band of flame-like petals or foliage [are they flames?]; a shorter inscription is carved over the two pairs of menacing lions of the upper base, warning the reader to be smart and run away from them; the lower base has bi-corporate creatures, the heads at the angles; one has been identified as a monkey by some, another as a ram; the other two appear somewhat human; Drake [cf. supra] suggests this lower base may be a later addition; although there is visual interaction between the creatures of the two levels, Drake may have been inclined to make his suggestion by the obvious difference in the carving of the two levels; the upper lions are excellent examples of realistic felines as depicted in the best fonts of the period [e.g., Freckenhorst], whereas the creatures of the level below are whimsical representations of a ram, a monkey and two humans with double bodies and a much cruder level of rendering the subjects. Between the four bulges of the basin are four odd-looking creatures; the ones on the north and east sides appear human in their oddity; the ones on the south and west sides have odd heads with pointed ears, but the bodies are rather simian, with bulging bellies. The inner well of the basin has a new lining; if we take the lining to be faithful to the shape of the stone, the well is octafoil, the sides corresponding to the four outer bulges being larger that the ones between them. There is considerable damage to the sides of the font, and there are inserted-stone repairs to the upper surface of the font; the latter may be related to the anchoring of an old cover.

COORDINATES

UTM: 30U 559516 5851122

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, type unknown

Font Shape: quatrefoil (mounted)

Basin Interior Shape: quatrefoil / octafoil

Basin Exterior Shape: quatrefoil

Drainage Notes: lead lined

Font Height (less Plinth): 97.5 cm*

Notes on Measurements: * ["3 feet 3 inches" in Calvert (1886: 38) and Cox & Harvey (1907: 217-218)]

INSCRIPTION

Inscription Language: Latin

Inscription Notes: "EM MIHI DAS GENI" has been conjectured for the missing text (Bond, ibid., p. 113); Tyrrell-Green (1928: 164). Pevsner translates as: "Thou bearest from Jerusalem the divine fount, endowing me with beauty and grace".

Inscription Location: 1) on the rim 2) on the stem

Inscription Text: 1) "+TV : DE : IERVSALEM / ROR[em mihi das geni]ALEM / ME : FACIENS : TALEM / TAM : PVLCHRVM : TAM : SPECIALEM" 1a (Dillon): "Tu de Jerusalem rorem fers ipsa vitalem"[...] 2) "+DISCRETVS NON ES SI NON FVGIS ECCE LEONES"

Inscription Source: Masfen (1852: 34); Cox (1907: 183); Bond (1908: 113); Tyrrell-Green (1928: 63, 164)

REFERENCES

A History of the County of Satfford, London: Constable [imprint varies in later volumes], 1908-

Victoria County History [online], University of London, 1993-. Accessed: 2019-07-18 00:00:00. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk.

Betjeman, John, An American's Guide to English Parish Churches (including the Isle of Man), New York: McDowell, Obolensky, 1958

Bond, Francis, Fonts and Font Covers, London: Waterstone, 1985 c1908

Calvert, Charles, History of Stafford and guide to the neighbourhood, Stafford: Printed and published by J. Halden & Son, 1886

Carlsson, Frans, The Iconology of Tectonics in Romanesque Art, Hässleholm: AM-Tryck, 1976

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