Mainz No. 1 / Maguntia / Mayence

Equié (1880) quotes De Caumont: "L'un des plus beaux fonts du quatorzième siècle que j'ai rencontrés est celui de Mayence; il est en plomb et présente l'image d'une coupe multilobée, d'un diamètre considérable, qui repose sur un court pédicule octogone. Les lobes de la coupe sont extérieurement ornés de moulures dans le style du quatorzième siècle, et des images du Sauveur, de la sainte Vierge, de saint Martin et des douze apôtres. Il a été fondu en 1328." [=one of the most beautiful 14th-century fonts I have found is the one at Mayence; made of lead, it has a multi-lobed basin of a considerable diameter and is raised on a short octagonal pedestal. The outside of the basin lobes is ornamented with mouldings in the style of the 14th century, and with the images of Our Saviour, Virgin Mary, St. Martin and the twelve Apostles. It was cast in 1328]. [Equié gives the reference as "Abécédaire, par M. de Caumont, Architecture réligieuse, p. 550"]. The font is described also in Walker (1883): "Behind the east altar stands an ancient font of lead, formerly gilt". [NB: the font is actually made of pewter]. The upper rim of the font bears an inscription. A metal cover in the shape of an upside-down flower; it matches the multi-lobed shape of the font at the rim; it has an orb-an-cross finial; 19th-century?. Noted and illustrated in DIO 1, Mainz, SN1, Nr. 37 (Rüdiger Fuchs, Britta Hedtke, Susanne Kern), in: www.inschriften.net, https://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0238-di002mz00k0003702 [accessed 12 July 2022]: baptismal font made of pewter; the basin was cast in 1328 by a local bell-maker [Glockengiesser] named Johannes of Maguntia [aka Johan von Mebce], by commission of the cathedral chapter and installed in the Liebfrauenkirche, which served as baptismal church for the cathedral at the time; in 1700 the font was moved to the St. Ägidius-Kapelle; when the Liebfrauenkirche was demolished in 1804 the font was moved to the east chancel of the cathedral; in 1888 the font was again moved, this time to the north transept where it now remains; the basin is octafoil, each bulge having three traceried arch-heads of trefoiled themes; individual standing figures occupy single arches but there are four scenes in those spaces that occupy three arch-heads; the scenes are those of the Majestas Domini, Madonna and Child with kneeling angels, and two scenes of th legend of St. Martin sharing his cape; of the single figures some of the Apostles (Peter, Paul, Bartholomew, Simon, James the Greater and Andrew) are easily identified by the symbols, while others are less clearly identifiable; above this arcade is an inscription, a small part of which was restored in the 19th century; loss of upper details of the inscription due to wear on the rim and subsequent repairs. [NB: the cathedral here may go back to the 4th century but we have no information on the earlier font(s)]