Orsieres / Orsières / Pons Ursarii

The Parish web site [www.paroisse-orsieres.ch] [accessed 25 April 2014] notes: "Les fonts baptismaux (1691). La cuve est en pierre, de plan octogonal. Son couvercle est en noyer sculpté. Le corps principal est décoré de fruits, de têtes d'anges et de feuillages. Au-dessus, un édicule composé de huit arcades abrite les statuettes de Saint Jean-Baptiste et du Christ. La couronne surmontée d'un globe et d'une croix rappelle un toit à coupole." Baptismal font of grey limestone (?), consisting of an octagonal basin with a rounded underbowl, plain but for the falt moulding at the upper rim, raised on an octagonal baluster-shaped pedestal base decorated with a single moulding. Wooden [walnut wood] rim-buffet font cover of two volumes; the lower volume has scrollwork panels with scroll buttresses topped with human heads at the angles; moulded cornices with cherub heads above; the second volume is openwork with a Baptism of Christ scene inside, the supporting outer columns in the shape of cherubs with folded wings; moulded upper cornice with an octagonal crown-like top with orb-and-cross finial.