Sydenham Crystal Palace
Image copyright © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library, 2011
Non-commercial use permitted with Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.
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Scene Description: sepia photograph taken in 1911: "Medieval Court, the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1911. Gothic font and archway." -- In the Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library [Image No. 10436305] This is a Rights Managed image.
OK to use with credit
Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library, 2011
Image Source: sepia photograph taken in 1911: "Medieval Court, the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1911. Gothic font and archway." -- In the Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library [Image No. 10436305]
Copyright Instructions: Non-commercial use permitted with Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.
INFORMATION
FontID: 17347CRY
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Church/Chapel: not in a church: in the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace
Country Name: England
Location: Greater London, South East
Directions to Site: Sydenham is split between the London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Bromley; it was, until 1889, part of Kent
Font Notes:
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Gothic baptismal font used at the 'Medieval Court', the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held at Crystal Palace, in High Park, London. In 1854 the building was dismantled and re-built in Sydenham. The local parish church of St. Bartholomew was built in the 1820s. The font is in the general style of the High Gothic or Perpendicular period, the arches of the basin sides crocketed, the buttresses between them pinnacled, the panels themselves filled with deeply-carved Biblical scenes [perhaps the seven Sacraments?] including one of the Crucifixion; raised on an equally ornamented pedestal base with standing figures on the sides, and on a multi-step plinth often found under the better fonts of that period. It appears to be a Victorian imitation of the style. [NB: not able at present to ascertain whether it was ever used as a font; it was probably made specifically for the exhibition]
COORDINATES
UTM: 30U 704776 5701250
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone
Font Shape: octagonal (mounted)
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal