Zurich No. 1 / Zürich

Main image for Zurich No. 1 / Zürich

Results: 2 records

view of font

Scene Description: the medieval font in the crypt

view of font in context

Scene Description: the medieval font in the context of the crypt

INFORMATION

FontID: 24955ZUR
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Church/Chapel: Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Grossmünster
Church Patron Saints: St. Felix & St. Regula
Church Location: Kirchgasse, Altstadt, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Country Name: Switzerland
Location: Zürich
Directions to Site: The church is located in the Alstadt, on the E bank of the Limmat, between Münsterbrücke (B) and Quaibrücke (S)
Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the crypt
Century and Period: Romanesque
Church Notes: original church said to have been built by Charlemagne; the present church, which started as a collegiate ca. 1100, completed 1220, and was the starting point of the Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland with Zwingli and Bullinger
Font Notes:
Konrad Escher's 'Das Zürcher Großmünster am Vorabend der Reformation' (1928) [1608-Article Text-1518-1-10-20091129.pdf] [accessed 27 September 2023] mentions two baptismal fonts in this church: the present font in use, made in 1598, was installed in the front of the nave at the time, while the earlier Romanesque tub that had its place in th west end, as was the custom, was discarded; during the renovations of 1914 the old font was discovered and was installed in the crypt, where it now stands ["Der alte Taufstein, 1598 vergraben und durch einen neuen ersetzt, stand, katholischem Brauch entsprechend, am Westende der Kirche, in der Nähe der starken Turmpfeiler, und unter den Türmen selbst befanden sich die Beichtstühle. Der alte Taufstein wurde bei Anlaß der Renovation von 1914 aufgefunden und in der Krypta aufgestellt."] The medieval font in the crypt is an octagonal tub with rounded underbowl; it is totally plain and shows some damage, especially to the upper rim; it now stands on a low quadrangular plinth, modern. No cover present but appears to have a flat and round metal insert inside the basin top. [cf. BSI entry for Zurich No. 2 for the 16thC font in this church].

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 47.37, 8.544167
Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 47° 22′ 12″ N, 8° 32′ 39″ E
UTM: 32T 465585 5246383

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Font Shape: tub-shaped
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal