Lias / Liars

Described and illustrated in Mesplé (1970: 133, 134 and fig. 3) as an baptismal font of the early 14th century, dated to ca. 1320 by the similarity of its decoration with the fonts of Cazères and Mauran [cf. Index entries for Cazères No. 1 and Mauran]. The font consists of an octagonal basin with a different motif on each panel: a quadrangular floral motif almost identical to the one at Cazères -though square here, 6-petal flowers, interlace, etc., as well as a shield charged witrh the arms of Comminges, according to Mesplé's identification; the underbowl is chamfered and has two bands of ornamentation: the upper one is a geometric braid, again, similar to the geometric pattern on the Cazères underbowl, wheras the lower has two rows of deeply cut squares in honeycomb-like fashion; there is a deep notch in one of the sides of the upper rim, probably part of the font cover system. The stem of the base appears plain except for a moulding about haf way up. [NB: this font is illustrated in Mesplé (1970: fig. 3) upside down -- we assume it is a printer's error]. The font is noted in the French Wikipedia entry for Lias [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lias_(Gers)] [accessed 11 August 2025]: "Les fonts baptismaux en calcaire gréseux proviennent de l'ancienne église, ils sont datés du XIVe siècle[45] ou de la fin du XVe siècle, et sont classés au titre objet des monuments historiques depuis 1961." Listed in Palissy [ref.: PM32000483]: "Fonts baptismaux [...] H = 87 ; d = 53 ; Circonférence sans les rebords : la = 156 [...] Ces fonts baptismaux paraissent dater de la fin du 15e siècle [...] Calcaire gréseux. Le blason à l'élégant décor cruciforme n'a rien d'héraldique. La sculpture ornementale est très habile : elle rappelle la sculpture sur bois." Illustrated in Mémoire [ref.: AP32W00340]