London No. 1

Results: 7 records

B01: angel - cherub - holding symbol of martyrdom

Scene Description: See lid notes

B02: design element - motifs - floral

BU01: design element - motifs - floral

LB01: symbol - acanthus

LB02: design element - motifs - leaf - palm

LID01: Apostle or saint - Apostles - St. Philip - baptizing the eunuch

Scene Description: Cox: this font, with the said image resides among the regalia at the Tower of London (see bib. ref.)

LID02: angel - cherub - 6 - holding symbols of martyrdom

Scene Description: Six cherubs between the lid and the basin, each holding a symbol of martyrdom (e.g., sword, hammer, whip, etc.)

INFORMATION

FontID: 02508LON
Museum and Inventory Number: Jewel House, Tower of London
Church/Chapel: [not in a church]
Church Location: [NB: address & coordinates given for the museum] Tower of, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom -- Tel.: +44 333 320 6000
Country Name: England
Location: Greater London, South East
Font Location in Church: [cf. Museum location]
Date: 1660
Century and Period: 17th century(mid),
Workshop/Group/Artisan: Richard Farmer
Church Notes: As mentioned in the font notes, there is a large silver platter or basin which completes the three-piece set. A second font, known as the "Lily font" appears in the source (Crown jewels, 1998) with catalogue no. 38 and is dated to 1840 [cf. Index entry for London No. 50]
Gonzales' 'London in 1731' provides "a list of his Majesty's regalia", where, listed as entry no. 8, appears: "A noble silver font, double gilt, that the kings and royal family were chistened in." Cox & Harvey (1907) inform that, among the regalia at the Tower, there is a silver font which stands 37 1/4 inches [=93.12 cm], the bowl having a diameter of 17 1/4 inches [=43.12 cm], a covered font surmounted by St. Philip baptising a eunuch. This is probably the same font described in Bond (1908) as a christening bowl "of silver, double gilt, very massive, and elaborately enriched with figures, foliage and flowers." Described also in Wall (1912). The font appears described and illustrated in a 1998 publication (Crown Jewels, 1998, v. 2). It is shaped like the ciborium used to contain the holy wafers after mass, with a tall slender base and a domed cover shaped to match the basin; the finial of the lid is indeed, as Cox described [cf. supra], a baptismal font in which stand both St. Philip and the eunuch; the bibliographic source (Crown Jewels, 1998) describes the decoration thus: "considerable virtuosity , both in its chased decoration and the cover finial group [... is] unique in its nature and size in English silver." The repousé work on the basin and lid includes six cherubs described in the source (Crown Jewels, 1998) as each holding an emblem/symbol of martyrdom (sword, hammer, wip, torch, etc.); between the cherubs, flowers and leaves. This same source provides full measuments and weights for both the font and the large flat additional basin which completes the set. The maker's mark "RF" is said in the source to correspond to Richard Farmer who made the font for the 1661 baptism of Charles II. Indeed, Charles II's arms appear on the inside of the bowl. The source gives the weights as: font and cover=19.33 kg; extra basin=9.10 kg; total of the three items =28.43 kg [description based on illustration and notes in 'Crown Jewels' (1998)]. Yvonne Demoskoff, in her article "Christening Information for Relatives of the British Royal Family from King George I to Queen Elizabeth II" (2001-2002) [http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~canyon/christenings2.html] informs that the font was made "on the order of King Charles II. It is 37" tall, is decorated with cherubs, foliage and figures, and was first used in 1688 for the christening of Prince James Francis Edward, son of King James II." She further informs that nearly all of George II's children were baptised in it and that it may have been the font in which the future Queen Victoria was baptised, "although there isn't any official record". [NB: Demoskoff (ibid.) informs of another royal font, "the portable Lily Font" designed by Prince Albert; this Lily Font is apparently used for royal baptisms as well]

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 51° 30′ 29″ N, 0° 4′ 34″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: metal, silver (silver gilt)
Font Shape: chalice-shaped
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Diameter (includes rim): 58.7 cm* [43.12 cm]**
Font Height (less Plinth): 95.2 cm* [93.12 cm]**
Notes on Measurements: *a/p Crown jewels, 1998 **a/p Cox, 1907

INSCRIPTION

Inscription Notes: The bibliographic source identifies "RF" as Richard Farmer, the maker. The "CR" probably corresponds to Charles II.
Inscription Location: Lid, basin and foot
Inscription Text: on cover: "CR" on basin: "RF" in the maker's mark on the foot: "CR"
Inscription Source: Crown Jewels, 1998, v. 2, p. 444

LID INFORMATION

Date: 1661
Material: silver, (it has a lining)
Notes: [cf. Font notes for details]

REFERENCES

Crown Jewels: the History of the Coronation Regalia in the Jewel House of the Tower of London, 2 v., London: The Stationary Office, 1998
Bond, Francis, Fonts and Font Covers, London: Waterstone, 1985 c1908
Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907
Davies, J.G., The Architectural Setting of Baptism, London: Barrie and Rockliff, 1962
Gonzales, Manoel, London in 1731: containing a description of the City of London; both in regard to its extent, buildings, government, trade, etc., London: Cassell & Co., 1888
Oman, Charles Chichele, English Church Plate, 597-1830, London: Oxford University Press, 1957
Wall, James Charles, Porches and Fonts, London: W. Gardner, Danton & Co., 1912