Brieva de Cameros

Listed in Cobreros (1993) as baptismal font of the Romanesque period. Described and illustrated in López de Silanes Valgañón (2000), who dates it to the 13th or 14th century [NB: the local parish news sheet has it dated to the fourteenth century]. Described and illustrated in Sáenz Rodríguez (2004), who suggests the font, though influenced by the Sierra de Cameros workshop, it was excuted by a mason not from the workshop but certainly influenced by it; Sáenz Rodríguez (ibid.) further notes that Brieva de Cameros is geographically in the Sierra de la Demanda, and this work links with the workshop that bears the name of the latter. In the Enciclopedia del románico en La Rioja (2008). On-site notes: the basin is roughly bucket-shaped and ornamented with three bands of motifs: at the upper end is a narrow band of diamond/romboid motif; the next one down is a vine or garland; there is a plain gap below; the next band of ornamentation is separated from the above by a very thin moulding and consists of fleurdelysée (trefoiled?) saltire crosses; this band covers only the front of the basin, while the back side of this band is plain; the pedestal of the base is cylindrical and has a band of 4-petal rosettes all around. The whole is raised on a wide circular two-step plinth. The upper rim of the basin still shows the staples of the cover. There is some damage at the upper rim but it is minor.