Venasque No. 3 / Vénasque

Corblet mentions that there is a cylindrical stone basin whose only ornamentation consists of "deux cercles sculptés sur son pourtour", and claims that it was without a doubt the "cuve-réservoir qui servait au baptistère", but that had been turned by the 19th century into a chapel in the presbitery of the church of Notre-Dame. (Corblet, 1881-1882, v. 2, p. 75) [cf. Index entries for Vénasque Nos. 1 & 2 for details on the Baptistery and its font]. On-site notes: this barrel-like object is similar to the one found in the baptistery at Frejus; they may have been originally reservoirs for the holy water and later used as baptismal fonts, though this is by no means certain. One of the upper rim sides has been badly damaged, evidence of forceful removal of old lid hardware. On-site notes: a cylindrical unmounted object located on one of the sides of the baptistery; it is not clear what function it served, nor is it known whethere or not it belongs there at all; it could have been a water reservoir or part of an oil-press (?).