Mutilva Baja

Described in the Catálogo Monumental de Navarra (1990?- , vol. IV*: 80); described and illustrated in Domeño (1992: 44-45, 165 and pl. 35): medieval baptismal font; tub-shaped basin with a roughly rectangular shape at the upper rim; the sides are ornamented with an odd combination of ill-matched motifs, some of which appear quite well-rendered, while others are barely scratches on the stone; below the upper rim is a pattern of saw-tooth motif; below this there are several compartments incised on the basin sides, some of which contain well-executed carved wheel/cross motifs, whereas others -which in Bilbao (1998: 199) are referred to as representations of a "Celestial Jerusalem"- are barely incised on the stone in what appears as a very poorly hand; below these is a well-marked roll moulding delimitating the end of the basin and the beginning of the underbowl, which is totally plain. The base is described in the CMdeN as a plain cylindrical pedestal; however the only rest for this basin appears to be now a trapezoidal stone of modern manufacture. Several repaired spots on the upper basin sides and rim may possibly correspond to breakages due to the removal of the staples of the lid. [We are grateful to the Institución Príncipe de Viana and to the photographers Larrión & Pimoulier, all of Pamplona, Spain, for the image of this font]