Urcel / Urser

Illustrated in Fleury (1778-1882). Described and illustrated in Lefèbvre-Pontalis (1885) with date in the mid-12th century: "La cuve baptismale d'Urcel, assise sur un socle carré assez épais, se compose d'une colonne centrale flanquée de quatre colonnettes. Ces cinq fûts supportent une dalle qui renferme un bassin circulaire destiné à contenir l'eau nécessaire au baptême. Chacune des colonnes est couronnée par un chapiteau, garni de feuilles de chêne qui se recourbent aux angles du tailloir, et les bases sont entourées de deux tores séparés par une gorge elles sont reliées au socle par de petites griffes. Ces fonts baptismaux appartiennent au milieu du XIIe siècle, comme les feuillages des chapiteaux et le profil des bases permettent facilement de le reconnaître." Cloquet (1897) states that even though this font may be in the "forme générique tournaisienne", it differs from the general pattern and, he claims, it is without a doubt of local manufacture. Enlart (1902) dates it to the 13th century. Corblet (1881-1882) simply lists it as Romanesque. Listed also as a 13th-century font in the Dictionnaire des églises... (1966- ) and in Palissy [ref.: PM02001290]. The font consists of a basin with a plain square top but rounded underbowl and capitals , all of which are decorated with large leaves; the broad central shaft and the four detached columns of the base are decorated with mouldings and have thick roll moulding bases with spurs; the whole on a square lower base. The wooden cover has sides fitted onto the upper rim of the basin, and a hinged opening to provide access to the inner well; Latin-cross finial. Listed and illustrated in Palissy [ref.: PM02001290] - Mémoire [ref.: AP02W00504] with date in the 13th century.