Lumino No. 2 / Lugmin / Lugomino / Lugumino / Lümìn / Lumín

The entry for this church in the Agenzia turistica ticinese SA [www.ticino.ch/fr/commons/details/Kirche-San-Mamete/5124.html] [accessed 16 May 2015] notes: "Assai pregevoli il fonte battesimale cinquecentesco di forma ottagonale recante diversi simboli (la stella, il fiore, il leone, il cherubino, il monogramma di Gesù e del parroco che commissionò l'opera, la morte, satana) e le due acquasantiere con raffigurazioni in rilievo." This is the font noted and illustrated in Marcionetti (1969), and that corresponds approximately to the major enlargement and renovation of this church ca. 1525; the font, adds Marcionetti (ibid.), is documented in the old parish account books as: "cento fanti boni a M.o zane del pellera p. il babtistero: 1533". The elements of decoration on the font are identified in this author as follows [on the basin sides, Left-to-Right]: B1)coat of arms of the priest, by the name of Cappo, "sacerdote colto e zelante", who commissioned the font; B2)IHS monogram; B3)eight-pointed star; B4)flower; B5)lion head with vegetation stemming from the mouth; B6)cherub head; B7)skull with scroll: "SIC CER", which Marcionetti (ibid.) expands: cioè SIC CERNERIS; 'così apparirai'. Invito ad ognuno a specchiarsi in quell'immagine di decaduta sorte"; B8)Satan with scroll: "UNDA PURIFICANS" [part of the text used in the blessing of the water in the font on Hoy Saturday: "[...] Sit fons vivus, aqua regenerans, unda purificans [...]"]; the pedestal base is made of four octagonal blocks; the topmost two blocks constitute the centre ring, but the second down may be a later addition to raise the heigjht of the font; the longer block below has a roll moulding all around and, below it, on one of the sides, a chalice and host; the lowest block of the pedestal base is also decorated on some of its sides: a hand with index finger pointing up on one side is sided by four and three flaming torches on the other panels of the block; the splaying lower base is also octagonal in shape, with a roll moulding atop.