Sleen

Baptismal font of Benthein sandstone consisting of a slightly tapering round basin made of Bentheim sandstone; its design matches the classification assigned in Drake (2002) as "Bentheim School; Type Sögel I, Sögel", which includes fonts at Damme, Greetsiel, Grimersum, Kantens, Rijsen, Sleen, Sögel, Thuine and Uphusen. Noted and illustrated in J. Knottnerus / Oude Drentse Kerken in beeld [http://home.kpn.nl/n1357/sleen_15.htm] [accessed 18 November 2018], who informs that the font was discarded to the pastor's garden and used as a planter in the Reformation; it was loaned to the Drents Museum in 1888, and returned to the church in 1988. The basin is decorated with, from top down, a braid, a rather geometric vine, a second braid, and a scrolled acanthus vine; the round-to-square base has a moulding atop, a round central stem with four couchant-regardant lions set at 90-degree angles, and a square lower base; the smirking lions have their tails thrown over their rumps. The font is in a fair state of conservation, given its treatment through the centuries; there is significant damage to the upper rim. probably where metal staples secured an old cover. There is no cover present now.