Jumet in Charleroi No. 1

Baptismal font consisting of a cylindrical basin decorated with four cylindrical columns with capitals and bases protryding at 90-degree angles; the capitals of these columns are four human heads, two of which have survived intact, one totally broken off and one that has lost the upper half. The stone appears to be Tournai limestone. The base or plinth of the font has not survived, and the basin is now raised on a simple modern support. Metal cover of cylindrical dome shape, orb-and-cross finial. A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 29 September 2023) notes the cognate fonts of Hallaton and Thurlby in the UK with the one at Jumet in Belgium: "The church of Jumet is already mentioned in 868. During excavations, the foundations of a pre-romanesque church have been found, that is dated 10th century. It is probably the church that was consecrated between 959 and 971 by Heraclius, bishop of Liège. Three other church buildings were later built consecutively on top of it. There is a Romanesque, Mosan baptismal font that had 4 heads of which only 2 have survived. The overall design of the basin is unique in Belgium. Dating in the literature is (therefore ?) always vague : 11th or 12th century. Comparing the heads with other Mosan fonts, I would tend to say late 12th century. The shape of the font differs radically from the usual Romanesque Mosan style. However, I observe fonts in the UK that seem to have a similar style, for example at Hallaton (although no church is mentioned in The Domesday Survey, the parish was associated with Leeds Priory early in the 12thc. when Daniel Crevequer of Leeds (c. 1130-1177) granted the advowson of half the rectory to that Priory, which had been founded by his father Robert in 1119), and Thurlby (its parish church of St Firmins dates back to 925 AD)"