Rouvrel

Listed in the Patrimoine de France [www.patrimoine-de-france.org] [ref. PM80001126] as a stone baptismal font of the 13th century in this church; no other details given. Described and illustrated in Richesses en Somme [www.richesses-en-somme.com/patrimoine-des-églises/fonts-baptismaux/fonts-bapt-du-10e-au-13e-siècle/] [accessed 15 May 2016]: "Les fonts baptismaux du XIIIe s. se composent d'une cuve en pierre demi-sphérique dans un encadrement carré, porté sur un pied central. Cette cuve est cantonnée de quatre chapiteaux, et surmontée d'une frise sculptée. Les colonnettes et leurs bases ont été détruites." At present the font consists of a square upper volume with four dangling capitals at the corners, the basin plain and round, raised on a plain square lower base or plinth; the sides of the square upper volume are decorated with a flowing foliage motif. It is obvious that the font had originally columns at the angles, as well as the remaining thick central shaft, but they were either accidentally broken off or intentionally removed, and was probably of a design that was relatively popular in this area of France in the Romanesque and early-Gothic periods, with examples at Equennes, Gentelles, Fouencamps, etc. The plain wooden cover is flat and square, plain; appears modern; old metal staple(s) still in the upper rim of the basin. The design of this font includes a rounded basin in a quadrangular frame formed by four angle colonnettes, with some varians, like the other medieval fonts in the Somme at Bergicourt, Cerisy-Buleux, Faverolles, Fourcigny, Gentelles, Neuville-les-Loeuilly, Wiry au Mont, etc.