Nieblum / Niblum / Nieblum auf Föhr / Njiblem

Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Results: 59 records

design element - architectural - arcade - blind - round arches - columns with capitals

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

human figure - male - standing - with lion and lioness

Scene Description: on the narrow east side of the font, with the bodies of the lions occupying most of the long north and south sides of the font; the lions have a paw each on the shoulders of the man, himself standing or sitting on a head (?) -- it is not a hunting scene, nor does it seem to be Daniel in the lions' den

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

human figure - male - warrior - fighting a fabulous animal or monster

Scene Description: on the narrow west side of the font -- the man on the left fights the mythical beast, upper half feline, lower half reptilian; the beast devours a human that clings to a tree

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

human figure - male - warrior - with shield and sword

Scene Description: facing the beasts

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

information

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2025

Image Source: Field notes taken on site by BSI

symbol - tree - Tree of life?

Scene Description: The lion bites the head of the figure who holds his arm to a branch of a Tree of Life (?).

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Scene Description: the shield held in the warrior's left arm is partially discernible here

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Scene Description: the lion bites the head of the figure who holds his arm to a branch of a Tree of Life (?)

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Scene Description: the lion bites the head of the figure who holds his arm to a branch of a Tree of Life (?)

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Scene Description: the lion bites the head of the figure who holds his arm to a branch of a Tree of Life (?)

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - detail

Scene Description: friendly lions?

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of basin - upper view

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - east end

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - northwest view

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © 2008?

Image Source: digital photograph [May 2008?] [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0-de

view of church exterior - south view

Scene Description: Photo caption: "Kirche und Friedhof in der Südansicht / Südansicht St. Johannis-Kirche in Nieblum auf Föhr"

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © 2008?

Image Source: digital photograph [May 2008?] [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0-de

view of church exterior - south view - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - southwest end

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - southwest view

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - tombstone

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior - tombstone

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church exterior in context - southeast view

Scene Description: Photo caption: "Die Kirche von Nieblum im Jahr 1895 / Föhr: Kirche in Nieblum (1895)"

view of church interior - alms box

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - alms box

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - alms box

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - alms box

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - alms box

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - altar and retable

Scene Description: Photo caption: "Altar der Kirche / Altar der Kirche St. Johannis in Nieblum"

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]

Image Source: digital photograph [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: Released into the public domain (by the author)

view of church interior - looking east

Scene Description: showing the font in the foreground, bottom-left corner of the image

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - looking west

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - looking west

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - nave - looking west

Scene Description: the old font, east side facing the camera, in the foreground -- Photo caption: "Blick durch das Mittelschiff auf den Altar / Mittelschiff der St. Johannis-Kirche in Nieblum auf Föhr mit Blick auf den Altar"

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © 2008?

Image Source: digital photograph [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0-de

view of church interior - nave - looking west

Scene Description: Photo caption: "Blick auf die Orgel / Kirche St. Johannis in Nieblum, Insel Föhr: Blick ins Langhaus, im Vordergrund Stühle für Hochzeitspaar."

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © 2008?

Image Source: digital photograph [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-3.0-DE

view of church interior - pulpit

Scene Description: the early-17thC pulpit -- Photo caption: "Kanzel aus dem Jahr 1618 / Kanzel der St. Johannis-Kirche in Nieblum auf Föhr"

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [s.n.], 2011

Image Source: digital photograph [May 2011] [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-3.0-DE

view of church interior - pulpit and sounding board

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - retable

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - retable

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - statue - 3

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - statue - St. John the Baptist and St. James the Greater

Scene Description: a John the Baptist wearu=ing skins stands on a recumbent James the Greater dressed in pilgrim garb

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - statue - St. John the Baptist and St. James the Greater - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - statue - St. John the Baptist and St. James the Greater - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of church interior - statue - St. John the Baptist and St. James the Greater - detail

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font - northeast side

Scene Description: Photo caption: "Taufstein der Kirche / Taufstein der Kirche St. Johannis in Nieblum"

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]

Image Source: digital photograph [July 2008?] [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johannis_(Nieblum)] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: Released into the public domain (by the author)

view of font - west side

Scene Description: the metal band around the upper side of the basin is there for reinforcement of the cracked basin -- the metal insert visible in the inner well is the modern support for the baptismal dish [not shown]

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Nordenskirker, 2014

Image Source: digital photograph in Nordenskirker [www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Foehrjohan_kirke/Foehrjohan_kirke102.htm] [accessed 5 June 2014]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-3.0

view of font in context

Scene Description: ca. 1824 drawing posted inside the church showing a royal baptism in the present font

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

view of font in context

Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Baptisteria Sacra Index, 2024

Image Source: digital photograph taken 16 June 2023 by BSI

INFORMATION

FontID: 19270NIE
Church/Chapel: Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche St. Johannis auf Föhr
Church Patron Saints: St. John
Church Location: Karkstieg, 25938 Nieblum, Germany -- Tel.: +49 4681 4461
Country Name: Germany
Location: Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein
Directions to Site: Located on the island of Föhr, S side, in the Föhr-Amrum municipality
Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the nave
Date: ca. 1200?
Century and Period: 12th - 13th century, Romanesque
Cognate Fonts: somewhat similar to the font at Munkbrarup
Tub-shaped baptismal font carved from a slightly oval-shaped granite block; it rests on an oval shaped lower base, also of granite, but probably of a later date [modern?]. The font is decorated with two scenes that have their focus on the two opposite narrower sides: on one side two gardant lions lean each a paw on the shoulders of a man looking forward; the man is seated, or perched, on a reclining head or figure of human appearance; the bodies of the lions spread backwards along the longer sides of the basin; the left lion has the mane of the male; the one on the right lacks the mane and is therefore likely a lioness; on the lower end of the long sides is a blind arcade of six (?) round arches on columns with capitals; on the opposite narrow side a mythical beast, half feline, half reptilian, devours a human that clings to a tree. This is a font of a Romanesque type found in both Denmark and Sweden. There is no cover proper in place, but the font has a 17th-century baptismal dish into which the holy water for baptism is poured, a practice common in the northern countries since the mid-16th century. The font, noted and illustrated in Klaus-D. Wupper [https://www.kdwupper.de/nieblum_foehr_friesendom.html] [accessed 31 December 2024] is described as carved out of a single block of granite [the basin] probably ca. 1200 by a stonemason from Lombardy: the stone is figuratively executed on the outside with two scenes: a knight attacks a hybrid creature, half lion, half snake, which in turn has already half-devoured a human clinging to a tree. On the opposite side of the stone, two lions attack a human, who in turn is sitting on a monster. The subject of both depictions is the battle between good and evil for the human soul. The tree of life and the knight symbolize the powers of good, which can only bring this battle to a victorious end with the help of baptism in the triune God. The archaic symbolism, combined with the artistic depiction on the limited space on the surface of the baptismal font, will make a lasting impression, and not only on contemporary churchgoers. Similar baptismal fonts have also been found in churches on the mainland. Paint residues were found on some of them, so it cannot be ruled out that the Nieblum baptismal font was originally painted [...] baptism is service is still performed today using a 17th-century baptismal dish that is supported in the upper rim of the basin by a removable metal frame. [cf. ImagesArea and FieldNotes for a detailed information of the decoration on this font].

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 54.693411, 8.491112
Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 54° 41′ 36.28″ N, 8° 29′ 28″ E
UTM: 32U 467200 6060794

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, granite
Font Shape: tub-shaped (mounted)
Basin Interior Shape: oval
Basin Exterior Shape: oval
Drainage Notes: no lining
Rim Thickness: 7-8.5 cm*
Diameter (inside rim): 60-66 cm*
Diameter (includes rim): 77-78 cm*
Basin Depth: 30 cm*
Basin Total Height: 76 cm*
Height of Base: 27 cm*
Font Height (less Plinth): 103 cm*
Square Base Dimensions: 84 x 104 cm* [oval]
Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site

LID INFORMATION

Notes: [cf. FontNotes]