Cremona No. 2

Described in the museum's caption card: hemispherical basin of a holy-water stoup that was located in the north transept, by the foor opening to 'la cononica', near the altar that housed the relics of S. Alberto di Villa d'Ogna, but originally from the Chiesa di S. Mattia. Sold by the Fabbriceria to an antique dealer, in 1884, it was acquirted through the intervention of the Prefettura. According to Quintavalle it is "un pezzo della prima fase dell'officina wiligelmica", attrubutable to the Master of the north door of the Modena cathedral, or to the Master of Artù. It is decorated with four forked-tail sirens. The same caption gives the date as early 12th century and the material as marble. [We are grateful to Juan Antonio Olañeta, of www.claustro.com, for the photographs of this object]