Lathen / Lode / Lodon / Lodun

Noted in Mithoff (1871-1880) and in Ligtenberg (1915). Classed in Drake (2002) as a baptismal font of the "Bentheim School, Berge b. Type II", a group of fonts that includes those at Alfhausen, Badbergen, Bippen, Borken, Heek, Lathen, Nordherringen, Salzbergen, Schapen, Schepsdorf, Südkirchen, Utrecht (Katharinenkonvent), Weerselo, Wettringen and Wissel. The font consists of a roughly cylindrical basin decorated with a vine (with palmettes and fruit bunches) between two sets of double rope moulding or braid, a band of fan-frieze at the bottom; the base is the usual round-to-square but with "an intriguing variation" noted in Drake (ibid.): "what at first sight appear to be seated fifures at the corners, on closer inspection are seen to be a type of diagonal buttress with two rudimentary faces, one above the other. The upper face is where one would expect the head of a seated figure and the lower at about the position of the lap." The font is mounted on a modern square plinth. The font cover is a round low-dome with knob handle or finial; it is hinged to a round flat frame at the upper basin rim; appears modern.