Espluga / Esplluga / Espluga de Merli

Listed and illustrated in Gavín (1977) as a Romanesque baptismal font in the church of Santa Llogaia, Espluga, in the municipality of Merli. Baptismal font noted and illustrated in SIPCA [http://www.sipca.es/censo/1-INM-HUE-004-111-014/Iglesia/de/Santa/Leocadia.html] [accesed 25 July 2022]: "Tiene pila bautismal semiesférica, decorada con gallones. Está decorada con policromía. Soporte cilíndrico de corta longitud y fuste helicoidal." The entry for this church in Románico en Ribagorza [https://romanicoribagorzano.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/foradada-santa-leocadia-de-espluga-de-merli/] [accessed 25 July 2022] by Francisco Martí Fornés notes: "Lo más interesante de la iglesia se halla en el ángulo noroeste. Se trata de una pila bautismal con tapa de madera, de tradición románica y decorada con formas gallonadas, policromada con predominan de tonos rojos y azules. Las arcuaciones del cuerpo de la pila finalizan en la parte superior en una franja entre molduras decorada con bolas." The crude, roughly hemispheric basin has a row of ball-motif, with a tall blind arcade which covers the rest of the basin and underbowl; the diagonal ribbing on the short base suggests a Gothic period. Another oddity is the concave flutes used for the support of the arch heads, another indication of a late-medieval date. the base is a very short round pedestal with a diagonal fluting pattern. Flat plain wooden cover hinged at the back. Also in this church is a partially wall-mounted holy-water stoup by the entrance; it is roughly hemispherical with a single flat moulding at the upper rim; stands also on a round slender pedestal base.