Airaines
Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
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Results: 23 records
view of font
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of font and cover
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Ministère de la Culture (France) - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - diffusion RMN, 2012
Image Source: digital image of an undated [ca. 1890?] B&W photograph taken by Camille Enlart [www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/memoire/0020/sap01_mh029292_p.jpg], reproduced in Photo Monument [http://photo-monument.fr/cuve-baptismale-du-monument-eglise-notre-dame-de-airaines/] [accessed 28 February 2017]
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-NC-ND 4.0 = Licence Ouverte / CC-BY-SA-4.0
view of font
Scene Description: Source caption: "A) Fonts baptismaux d'Airaines (extrémité) - Fonts baptismaux d'Airaines (face). - Extrait de "Les Monuments religieux de l'architecture romane dans la région du Nord par C. Enlart. Amiens, 1895. B) Airaines. Église Notre-Dame. Cuve baptismale romaine (XIIe siècle). - C. Monschein, am.-photographe, à Airaines (Somme). C) Fonts baptismaux d'Airaines. - Extrait de la "description du département de la Somme" par Dusevel."
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: digital image of an illustration in the Archives et Bibliothèque patrimoniale d’Abbeville, Mol. 20 [https://patrimoine.abbeville.fr/collection/item/12533-a-fonts-baptismaux-d-airaines-extremite-fonts-baptismaux-d-airaines-face-extrait-de-les-monuments-religieux-de-l-architecture-romane-dans-la-region-du-nord-par-c-enlart-amiens-1895-b-airaines-eglise-notre-dame-cuve-baptismale-romaine-xiie-siecle-c-monschein-am-photographe-a-airaines-somme-c-fonts-baptismaux-d-airaines-extrait-de-la-description-du-departement-de-la-somme-par-dusevel?offset=12] [accessed 9 February 2025]
Copyright Instructions: PD
view of font
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: digital image of a héliogravure in Brutails (1893-1899): 384
Copyright Instructions: PD
view of font
Scene Description: heliogravure (?) ca. 1890?
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Brutails (1893-1899, vol. 6: 384)
Copyright Instructions: PD
human figure - seated - 2
Scene Description: side 4: arms linked, hands on their knees -- the figure on the right has lost its head; crude repair in place
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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animal - bird - with head
Scene Description: In some capitals at the upper corners of the basin -- this one on side 4, left corner
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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design element - motifs - foliage
Scene Description: In some capitals at the upper corners of the basin -- this one on side 3, left corner
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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design element - architectural - column - columns with capitals and bases - 4
Scene Description: and a roll moulding at each ent of the stem
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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human figure - demi-figure - arms akimbo - linked - 3
Scene Description: side 3 (long side): three on one side, arms linked -- similar to side 1
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
human figure - seated - 2
Scene Description: side 2: arms linked, hands on their knees
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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animal - fabulous animal or monster - dragon?
Scene Description: side 1: leaning on the demi-figure to the right; appears to talk to his ear
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
human figure - demi-figure - arms akimbo - linked - 3
Scene Description: side 1 (long side): three on one side, arms linked -- similar to side 3
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
design element - motifs - rope moulding
Scene Description: all around the upper rim of the basin
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of basin - interior
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - west façade
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - southwest view
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - monument - detail
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - monument
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - west portal
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
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view of church exterior - west façade - window
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2023
Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 24 June 2000 by BSI
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
view of church exterior in context - northeast view
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: digital image of a héliogravure in Brutails (1893-1899): 379
Copyright Instructions: PD
view of font in context
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Ministère de la Culture (France) - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - diffusion RMN, 2012
Image Source: "Négatif noir et blanc ; support verre" by Médéric Mieusement, in Mémoire [ref.: APMH00000032]
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-NC-ND 4.0 = Licence Ouverte / CC-BY-SA-4.0
INFORMATION
Font ID: 00498AIR
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Date Visited: 2000-06-24
Font Date: 1130?
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th century (mid) (?), Romanesque
Workshop/Group/Artisan: Marquise font / Boulonnais font
Cognate Fonts: A rectangular font of similar proportions at Bazouges-la-Perouse, in Ile-et-Vilaine; another such at Llanbeulan, in Wales
Church / Chapel Name: Église et Prieuré benedictin Notre-Dame [originally from the old church dedicated to Saint-Denis which has now disappeared. The font is now in the priory]
Font Location in Church: Inside the priory church, in the NW side, down the stairs, to the left of the entrance
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Mary the Virgin
Church Notes: early-12thC Benedictine priory was a dependant of the Cluniac Abbey of Saint-Martind-des-Champs, Paris
Church Address: 80270 Airaines, Pas-de-Calais -- Tel.: 08.99.54.03.32
Site Location: Somme, Hauts-de-France, France, Europe
Directions to Site: Located 20 km SSE of Abbeville, 28 km W of Amiens on the N235. There are several interesting fonts in Amiens itself and the surrounding area.
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocèse d'Amiens
Historical Region: Picardie
Additional Comments: there is a stone in the church of Acton, near Nantwich, Cheshire (UK) with very similar heads as those seen on this font
Font Notes:
Click to view
There is a drawing ["Encre sur papier calque collé sur papier blanc"] of this font executed ca. 1850 by Aimé Duthoit (1803-1869) and Louis Duthoit (1807-1874) now held at the Musée de Picardie, in Amiens [inventory no.: MP Duthoit X-18]. Noted and illustrated in Brutails (1893-1899. Enlart (1890), (1895) and (1902) lists it among a group of 11th century immersion fonts and describes it as rectangular and unmounted, with similar ornamentation as the round font from Samer (Pas-de-Calais), including a Baptism scene: "ils sont en calcaire oolithique du Boulonnais et que la grande cuve d'Airaines est non seulement du XIe siècle comme eux et faite de la même pierre, mais qu elle reproduit avec la similitude la plus frappante les mêmes figures et les mêmes ornements". The Marburg Index dates it tentatively to the early 12th century and Pudelko (1932) gives the first half of the 13th century and suggests Marquise stone. Lasteyrie (1929) concurs on the material, Marquise stone and dates it to the 11th century. He describes the figures as "affreux anthropoïdes dont je serai bien embarrassé de dire la signification." The dating to the 11th century was suggested by the Comité des travaux historiques in the Revue de l'art chrétien, v. 40, 1890, p. 415. [NB: the figures represented on this font are simian-like, although the general consensus is that they represent persons, even possibly catechumens, hence their presence on the baptismal font. There is a somewhat similar depiction of ape-like humans on a capital in the nave of the church of Saint-Martin in Ryes, Calvados; the three figures depicted on one of the capitals there have bow-legs, short-rounded trunks and "parenthetical" arms; those capitals have been dated to the early 11th century - cf. ill. in the Dictionnaire des églises... , 1966- , III B 148]. Described and illustrated in Oursel (1994) who suggestes the date of the consecration of the church, 1130, as that of this font and probably Samer's as well. Stocker (1997) suggests burial connotations of the rectangular shape in this and other French fonts (Amiens, Senlis). Noted and illustrated in Drake (2002), who describes it as an "outstanding example that has no siblings" [of the Marquise workshops]. Catalogued in Palissy [www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/palissy_fr] [accessed 6 August 2012] [ref.: PM80000091]: "La cuve est rectangulaire, cantonnée de colonnettes courtes, et couronnée d'une grosse torsade. [..] 11e siècle". Illustrated in Mémoire [www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/memoire_fr] [accesed 6 August 2012] [ref.: APMH00000032]. On-site notes: a large rectangular font with carved reliefs on the four sides of the basin; the corners of the basin have carved columns with ornamented capitals; the first long side has three figures full front with jug-ears, long faces and long hooked arms; a small dragon-like figure with a phallic tail appears on the top-right corner; the next side (L->R) of the rectangular basin has two more such figures, seated and their hands on their knees; above at the rim a thick rope motif; the next side has three other such figures, their arms hooked at their elbows; the fourth side has two such figures seated, hands on knees.. The thick base or plinth is also rectangular and the whole, basin and base, has a heavy, somewhat crude appearance; this plinth may have been reconstructed. The capitals of the columns show 1)two birds and a head, 2)foliage, 3)repeat of 1, and 4)repeat of 2. There is no font cover present now but there is a photograph by Camille Enlart [cf. ImagesArea] in which a double font cover, flat and plain, is seen on the font.
Credit and Acknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge the generous help of the Office de Tourisme d'Airaines in providing full access to this font during our on-site work
COORDINATES
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 49.964949, 1.946119
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 49° 57′ 53.81″ N, 1° 56′ 46.03″ E
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone, limestone [pierre de Marquise] [calcaire oolithique]
Font Shape: rectangular
Basin Interior Shape: rectangular
Basin Exterior Shape: rectangular
Drainage System: centre hole in basin
Rim Thickness: 10-14 cm*
Diameter (inside rim): 55 x 95 cm*
Basin Depth: 37 cm*
Height of Basin Side: 45 cm*
Basin Total Height: 59 cm*
Font Height (less Plinth): 59 cm*
Font Height (with Plinth): 88 cm*
Square Base Dimensions: 100 x 125 cm*
Trapezoidal Basin: 75 x 118 cm*
Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site
LID INFORMATION
Notes: The upper rim sides are damaged where the original hinges were removed [cf. FontNotes and ImagesArea]
REFERENCES
- Dictionnaire des églises de France, Belgique, Luxembourg, Suisse, Paris: R. Laffont, 1966-, IV B 148 (on a similar depiction of the human figure)
- Marburg Index
- Brutails, Jean-Auguste, La Picardie historique et monumentale, Amiens: Société des antiquaires de Picardie. Fondation Edmond Soyez / Imprimerie Yvert et Tellier, 1893-1899, vol. 6: 384
- Cloquet, Louis, "Travaux des sociétés savantes: Comité des travaux historiques", 40, Revue de l'art chrétien, 1890, pp. 415-420; p. 415
- Davies, J.G., The Architectural Setting of Baptism, London: Barrie and Rockliff, 1962, p. 65
- Drake, Colin Stuart, The Romanesque Fonts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press, 2002, 3, 63 n21, 64 and pl. 130
- Enlart, Camille, 8 (1890), Bulletin archéologique du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques, 1890, pp. 46-73; p. 46
- Enlart, Camille, Manuel d'archéologie française depuis les temps mérovingiens jusqu'à la Renaissance, Paris: Alphonse Picard & fils, 1902, p. 771; p. 773 footnote 3; p. 780
- Enlart, Camille, Monuments réligieux de l'architecture romane et de transition dans la région Picarde, Amiens: Yvert et Tellier, 1895, p. 27
- Lasteyrie du Saillant, Robert Charles, conte de, Architecture réligieuse en France à l'époque romane (2e éd., avec une bibliographie critique par Marcel Aubert), Paris: A. Picard, 1929, p. 703 and pl. 713
- Oursel, Hervé, Nord roman: Flandre, Artois, Picardie, Laonnois, La Pierre-qui-vire, Yonne: Zodiaque, 1994, p. 232 and pl. 101
- Pudelko, Georg, Romanische Taufsteine, Berlin: Wurfel Verlag, 1932, pl. VIII
- Stocker, D.A., "Fons et origo: The Symbolic Death and Resurrection of English Font Stones", I (1997b), Church Archaeology, 1997, pp. 17-25; p. 22