Nieuwenhove

Cloquet (1890) mentions in a footnote "les curieux fonts historiés de Nieuwenhove [...] qui sont en pierre blanche." Listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [http://balat.kikirpa.be/object/8906] [accessed 31 May 2022] as a baptismal font of "natuursteen" dated to the 12th century. No cover present. The entry for this church in the Onroerenderfgoed.be [https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/8651] [accessed 31 May 2022] reports a "Hardstenen romaanse doopvont." [NB: this font is obviously a composite object; the lower base, designed to supprt a five-column support type of font, may be as early as the 12th century, as some sources claim, but the rest is a much later font with very interesting and original figural carvings on its underbowl. The two parts are of different stones [cf. supra and infra]. A communication from Pol Herman to BSI (e-mai of 19 May 2022) notes: "Nieuwenhove has a 12th century Romanesque base, however the base is made of local “Balegem stone” or “calcaire lédien”. According to Jean-Claude Ghislain, Nieuwenhove has a 12th century Romanesque base, however the base is made of local “Balegem stone” or “calcaire lédien”. No other such example exists, it seems to be unique.