Bianya No. 1 / Sant Salvador de Bianya

Described and illustrated in Catalunya romànica (1984-): limestone baptismal font probably of the 12th century; there are three bands of ornamentation on the basin sides: the upper is of saw-tooth; the middle one is a loose two-strand braid that looks almost like a chain, so open are the twists; the third is a rope moulding right at the bottom of the bsin side; there is one other rope moulding on the underbowl; the short pedestal base is round. This is one of the better looking fonts of this area, somewhat in the same level as the fonts at Sant Romà de Joanetes and Santa Maria de Puigpardines [cf. Index entries for both] in the nearby Vall d'En Bas, but a little more generous in its ornamentation since the other two are ornamented with rope moulding only. The font has a cylindrical wooden cover of the 'rim-buffet' type; it appears modern. [cf. Index entry for Bianya No. 2 for a nicely decorated Romanesque stoup in the same church]