Visby No. 2

Described and illustrated in Kjellin (1925: 16 and fig. 12): base of a medieval baptismal font, now [ca. 1925] at the Gotlands Fornsal Museum. The object is in the shape of a truncated cone, with an upper ring moulding damaged on one of the side; the sides are ornamented with a pattern of inverted arches at the bottom; on the descent of the arches sprout acanthus-like plants; inside each arch is a motif, passant lions (?) and human mask-like heads, alternating around the base; three of these are visible in our source [cf. Image section]: two of the said lions (?) and a caricaturesque bearded head bearing a crown. The animals and the mask are done in the style characteristic of the Fröjel group of baptismal fonts. As discussed elsewher [cf. Index entry for Fröjel] the dating of these objects in Roosval et al. should be revised, with a probable dating closer to the 14th century. [We are grateful to professor Øytein Hjort, Køvenhavn Universitet, for the source reference to this font]. [NB: this base has not been in public display during any of our visits to the Gotlands Fornsal].