Saint-Quentin-la-Chabanne No. 1

Results: 1 records

INFORMATION

Font ID: 04090QUE
Object Type: Other
Object Details: altar, Roman
Date Visited: 2001-06-27
Font Century and Period/Style: 4th - 5th century?, Gallo-Roman
Workshop/Group/Artisan: altar-font
Church / Chapel Name: Église Saint-Quentin-d'Amiens de Saint-Quentin-la-Chabanne
Font Location in Church: Inside the church, to the left of the door
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Quentin [aka Quentin of Amiens, Quintin, Quintinus]
Church Notes: The 13th-14th century church houses one of the famous wooden "Black Virgins" of this area (Notre-Dame-sous-terre) dated to the 17th century (source: Dictionnaire des églises... (1966-)) -- listed in Mérimée (ref.: PA00100192): "13e siècle"
Church Address: Rue de l'Église, 23500 Saint-Quentin-la-Chabanne, France -- Tel.: +33 5 55 66 50 63
Site Location: Creuse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, Europe
Directions to Site: Located off the D992, 2-3 km SSW of Felletin, about 12 km SSW of Aubusson
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocèse de Limoges
Additional Comments: recycled stoup / altar font: a curious Gallo-Roman altar dedicated to Mercury re-purposed as holy water stoup
Font Notes:
Described in the Dictionnaire des églises... (1966-) as a curious Gallo-Roman altar dedicated to Mercury now serving as holy-water stoup. On-site notes: the monolithic rectangular stoup has the shape of a common type of Roman ara, rectangular at top and bottom with the centre narrowing slightly towards the middle; the upper sides, now the sides of the basin, have a single moulding all around; there is an inscription [no transcription available; cf. Images area] on the front side. Listed in Palissy [ref.: PM23000176]: "Autel païen à Mercure transformé en bénitier [...] L'autel en granite gris est en forme de petit pilier rectangulaire. Son sommet est évidé d'une cavité de section circulaire. Des inscriptions sont gravées sur deux de ses faces [...] Seules des moulures disposées au sommet et à la base de l'autel le décorent. Toutefois, chaque face comporte un panneau réservé en forme de rectangle vertical cintré dans le haut et dont les angles inférieurs sont concaves [...] H = 98,5 ; l = 60 ; la = 54 ; profondeur de la cavité au sommet = 12 [...] Cet autel gallo-romain est datable du 1er ou du 2e siècle [...] Inscription gravée sur l'une des faces : NVM.AVGG.EMER/SBIGA/IUSSA/VSLM. Inscription gravée sur une autre face : NVM AVG/DEO.MER/CVRIOSA/BINI.IVS/CARISSA/ARA[...]/[...]DS[.]P".

COORDINATES

UTM: 31T 434372 5079362
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 45.8647, 2.1545
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 45° 51′ 52.92″ N, 2° 9′ 16.2″ E

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, limestone?
Number of Pieces: one
Font Shape: rectangular, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: rectangular
Basin Exterior Shape: rectangular
Drainage System: no drainage system
Rim Thickness: 5 cm*
Diameter (inside rim): 29 x 49 cm*
Basin Depth: 12 cm* / **
Font Height (less Plinth): 98 cm* / 98.5 cm**
Square Base Dimensions: 49 x 60 cm* / 54 x 60 cm**
Trapezoidal Basin: 39 x 59 cm*
Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site / ** Palissy

INSCRIPTION

Inscription Language: Latin
Inscription Location: on two sides
Inscription Text: 1) "NVM.AVGG.EMER/SBIGA/IUSSA/VSLM" 2) "AVG/DEO.MER/CVRIOSA/BINI.IVS/CARISSA/ARA[...]/[...]DS[.]P"
Inscription Notes: [cf. FontNotes]
Inscription Source: Palissy [cf. FontNotes]

REFERENCES

  • Dictionnaire des églises de France, Belgique, Luxembourg, Suisse, Paris: R. Laffont, 1966-, II B 158
  • France, Ministère de la culture, Inventaire Général, Palissy (France, Ministère de la culture), France, Ministère de la culture. URL: http://www.culture.fr/public/mistral/palissy.