Frognal

Baptismal font consisting of three volumes and pieces: octagonal basin the sides of which are decorated with standing demi-figure angels carrying objects and quatrefoil panels; the underbowl has graded chamfer with a cherub heads at the angles; on a broad base made up of what is possibly the basin of another font, and a number of pieces on the lower base that were probably never part of a font; octagonal with quatrefoiled panels; raised on a octagonal lower base with graded moulding. The stem may actually be a smaller basin upturned. The whole very worn and invaded by greenish mould. The sale of this font appeared on the SalvoWeb news [www.salvoweb.com/news-4.html#59922] [accessed 4 September 2011]: "Limestone font from the garden of Randolph Hearst's agent, J Y McPeake's in Frognal, sold for £4,250 [photo Summers Place]". For another entry about the sale of this font see Period Oak Antiques [https://www.periodoakantiques.co.uk/antique-sales-archive/a-rare-medieval-english-limestone-font-late-14th-early-15th-century-27-stockno-1194/] [accessed 23 August 2021]: "Removed from a garden in Frognal, London. Formerly the property of J.Y.McPeake, who was one of William Randolph Hearst~s agents in England. McPeake, an Irishman, was originally recruited by Hearst to publish the English version of Good Housekeeping. First published in 1922 it was an immediate success and ultimately enabled Hearst to purchase St Donat~s castle in Wales in 1925. Hearst used McPeake to purchase a number of pieces for him including a marble Cupid and Psyche from the historic auction of the Hope Antiquities. -[...] A RARE MEDIEVAL ENGLISH LIMESTONE FONT. LATE 14TH/EARLY 15TH CENTURY. THE HEXAGONAL FONT CARVED TO EACH FACE WITH WINGED ANGELS, QUATREFOILS AND GOTHIC TRACERY. EACH FACET TERMINATING WITH A PROJECTING HEAD. THE TWO SECTIONAL STAND ALSO WITH QUATREFOIL AND TRACERY CARVING AND STANDING ON A STEPPED BASE. [...] STOCK NO 1239. [...] Dimensions: Height: 40 inches (101.6 cms) Width: 30 inches (76.2 cms) SOLD "