Beek nr. Maastricht

Baptismal font illustrated in Kerkgebouwen in Limburg [https://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/kerken/beek/martinus] [accessed 13 March 2022]. A communication from Pol Herman to BSI (e-mail of 7 March 2022) informs: "baptismal font from the 17th century, made of bluestone and copper. The base dates from the early 16th century, the basin from 1632 and the lid from the mid-19th century. That base has a four-sided foot, merging into an octagon. The lower part of the basin is round and it has a thickened marble top. The lid is made of brass with steps of reduced diameter. As a crowning touch, the lid has a small ball with a crucifix on it." A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 1 May 2024) notes: "Two heads are integrated in the outer wall of its 12th century Romanesque tower. They are badly battered. Since immemorial times and until 1962 the annual custom was for the first communicants to throw stones at it. As a sign that they renounced the devil and paganism. Therefore, Jean-Claude Ghislain assumes that the heads are roman, predating Christianisation. Also, the heads seem too big for a Romanesque baptismal font. Local historians however think the heads are the remainder of the oldest font. I would tend to agree with Ghislain." [cf. ImagesArea for photographs of these objects]