Lanreath / Lannreydhow

Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of a group of remarkable fonts in this county, "all nearly alike, being square at the top, with human heads at the corners, and circles inclosing [sic] stars on the sides, supported by serpents, &c." Noted and illustrated in Upcott (1818) [with reference to Lyson]. Described and illustrated in Paley (1844), who comments on the upright position of the zig-zag motif on the shaft as "giving it greatly the appearance of the tooth ornament"; he refers to the richly carved pyramidal cover as "a good specimen of the taste of the seventeenth century, not as a model to follow". Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports "a curious Norman font" in this church [NB: the adjective 'curious' in this context is a synonym of 'interesting']. The Antiquary (issue No. 35, vol. 6, November 1882: 220) reports a visit by the Royal Institution of Cornwall to Lanreath church, where they report "a very interesting carved Norman font". Described and illustrated in Bond (1908) as a chalice-shaped font of the Norman period; the round bowl has a wide band with symmetrical Greek palmette motif (anthemion) under the rim; the stem of the base has prominent braiding instead of the more usual cable/rope motif; there are chevron motifs on the lower base. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a noteworthy example of the Norman period. Described in Cox (1912): "Circular font, 29 in. in diameter, is a fine and unusual example of early Norm[an] ; both bowl and base richly carved ; small cross cut on the rim is sometimes erroneously described as 'a consecration cross.' There is a good octagonal font-cover of early I3th cent. date." Noted in Pevsner (1970): "Font. Norman, of Catacleuse stone, Fowey type, that is, cup-shape. Uncommonly rich, with zigzag, plait, palmettes, etc.. Cover. Handsome shape and decoration; Jacobean."