Kwaadmechelen / Quaedmechelen

The present font in this church is listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/61813]: modern, of. ca.1955. A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 18 January 2023) notes the confusing story about a found fragment and its possible nature and origin: "On 11th of May 1940, two old baptismal fonts were destroyed : that of Oostham and that of Kwaadmechelen. Both churches were set on fire by the Belgian army on that day so as not to leave any watchtowers to the advancing German invasion troops. Not a single church treasure was secured in time. Everything was lost. During the clean-up works of the church of Kwaadmechelen, one fragment of a baptismal font was found. It was kept for years at the local historical society, until the last priest suggested that it be put back on display in the church. The object was given to him, but it was never seen again. When the priest left three years later, it had disappeared without a trace. Only two photos have survived. It is a fragment of a gothic, octagonal, limestone, Mosan baptismal font. The head is very unusual because it is not human. Dirk Bertrands of the local historical society describes it as the face of a cat. Personally, I only know 1 similar gothic animal head : on the font of Heukelum (Netherlands), dated appr. 1300. It is however troubling that Lisbeth Tollenaere described a font in the church of Kwaadmechelen, as follows : « La sculpture sur pierre de l'ancien diocèse de Liège à l'époque Romane », Publication extraordinaire de la société archéologique de Namur, 1957, page 255" Kwaadmechelen, Hasselt district, Beringen canton, Limburg province, historic diocese of Liège, St. Lambertus Church. Baptismal font with semi-circular basin, divided into four by four male heads (= corner heads). The basin is supported by a central column, surrounded by four corner columns. In blue limestone from the Maasland. Twelfth or thirteenth century. Mentioned in P. Daniëls and Paquay, “Inventaire Limbourg, V, 1922, 55” as being twelfth century. This book must be : Inventaire archéologique des objets existant dans les édifices publics / Oudheidkundig inventaris der kunstvoorwerpen in kerken en openbare gebouwen, fasc. V. Kanton Beeringen, Hasselt, 1922. The gothic fragment cannot be from the Romanesque font! [To be continued]." A letter from Dirk Bertrands noted the disappeared fragment and provided two photographs of it: "Triest verhaal... De Kwaadmechelse kerk werd op 11 mei 1940 in brand gestoken door het Belgische leger (wegens nabijheid van de stellingen aan het Albertkanaal). Geen enkele kerkschat werd toen vooraf beveiligd. Bij de opruimwerken kwam één enkel stuk van de doopvont boven. Dit werd jarenlang veilig bewaard door onze heemkundige kring tot de laatste lokale pastoor voorstelde dit terug in de kerk te plaatsen op een sokkel. Wij vonden dat een goed idee en bezorgden hem het fragment. Een jaar of drie geleden bleek het echter onvindbaar/verdwenen. Ik kan u enkel deze foto’s bezorgen. Alle info die u aan de hand van deze beelden kan bezorgen, is meer dan welkom. MVG Dirk Bertrands"