Serres-Sainte-Marie / Nostre-Done de Serres / Sancta-Maria de Serris / Sente-Marie de Serres / Serre

Baptismal font consisting of a plain oval basin raised on a plain cylindrical pedestal base, both parts made of stone; the basin has a metal insert of the same shape that fits snuggly in the stone well, and is provided with a hinged cover of the same material. It is not a common design, since, most oval fonts in France tend to start in the 16th century and have internal divisions, usually two basins and one or two snaller cavities for the holy oils, etc.; the metal inser appears to be held in place by cement around the upper rim. Noted and illustrated in Visites Aquitaine [http://visites.aquitaine.fr/fonts-baptismaux-de-l-eglise-de-serres-sainte-marie] [accessed 3 December 2013]: "Situés dans le haut de la nef, ces fonts baptismaux se composent d’une large vasque ovoïde doublée intérieurement de métal et fermant avec un couvercle à abattant, et d’un pied en fût de colonne de section cylindrique. Ces éléments sont en pierre non polie."