Vlekkem / Erpe-Mere Vlekkem / Flachem / Vleckem

Baptismal font listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/42911] [accessed 12 August 2024] with date in the 18th century: "doopvont [...] koper, marmer [...] hoogte: 154 cm [...] hoogte bekken: 103 cm". The entry for this church in KerkNet [https://www.kerknet.be/parochie-erpe-mere/artikel/sint-lambertuskerk-vlekkem] [accessed 12 August 2024] reports a marble 18th-century font in it: "Altaren, biechtstoel en marmeren doopvont dateren uit de 18de eeuw." The baptismal font is listed and illustrated in Erfgoedplus.be No. 41082V01.priref.710067944 [accessed 12 August 2024]: "Doopvont met kuip van rood marmer en voet in zwart marmer; koperen deksel met kruisje. Aantal onderdelen: 2 [...] hoogte: 155 cm. diameter: 60 cm", with date in the 18th century [NB: the height given may include the cover]. Another, modern font of ceramic and wood is listed and illustrated in Erfgoedplus.be [https://www.erfgoedplus.be/details/41082V01.priref.710067866] [accessed 12 August 2024]: "Ronde kom in keramiek met eiken vierkante voet en ronde stam ; houten deksel met keramieken kruisje. Aantal onderdelen: 3". A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 25 June 2024) notes: "The church of Vlekkem is mentioned for the first time in 1117. I was a property of the abbey of Vorst. The church was badly damaged during the Iconoclastic Fury by the Calvinists in 1580/1582. The damaged baptismal font was repaired in 1600. The church had a font although the parish only became independent from that of Burst in 1803. The old church on the site of the Benedendries was demolished in 1858-1860. And replaced by a new neogothic building in the village centre. The marble basin is certainly the oldest part. KIK-IRPA dates the composite font as 18th century. When I observe similar marble fonts in the database of KIK-IRPA, I doubt that this dating is correct. Similar fonts are classified as 17th century, and two of them have engraved dates : Montegnée 1620 and Binche 1622. I would therefore consider the font of Vlekkem as being from the first quarter of the 17th century, probably replacing the damaged font mentioned in 1600."