Ankum / Ainghem / Anchem

Noted and illustrated in Mithoff (1871-1880). Listed in Ligtenberg (1915). A partial drawing (Enciclopedia dell'arte medievale, 1991-1998, XI (1898), p. 82, fig. 5), shows the base of the Ankum font, similar to the one in Groenlo (Ryskmus. Amsterdam), except that the figures here are not full length. Classed in Drake (2002) as a baptismal font of the Bentheim School, "Berge, a.Type I" (fonts at Ankum I, Arle, Berge, Borghorst, Emlichheim, Emstek, Gescher, Haselünne, Hattem, Jellum, Lastrup, Metelen, Münster Museum, Norg I, Ochtelbur, Ramsdorf, Recke, Toornwerd, Vries and Zweelo) [NB: Drake (ibid.) complains about the use of "elaborate metal covers, fixed to the stone, which completely overshadow the artefacts themselves and deprive them of their innate simple elegance", specifically in the fonts at Damme and Ankum]. The font consists of a roughly cylindrical basin decorated with two double rope mouldings or braids with a vine that has palmettes and fruit bunches all around, and a band of fan-frieze below; the round-to-square base has a roll moulding atop and four seated hooded figures at 90-degree angles of the broad central shaft. The cover -criticised by Drake above- appears to be made of gilded brass (?), conical above a crown-shaped base that has a Lattin running inscription on it, with orb-and-cross finial.