Sibiu / Cibinium / Hermannstadt

Baptismal font of bronze noted in the Evangelische Kirchengemeinde A.B. Hermannstadt [https://hermannstadt.evang.ro/kultur/stadtpfarrkirche/] [accessed 29 November 2025]. The Wikipedia site for the Sibiu Cathedral [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibiu_Lutheran_Cathedral] [accessed 29 November 2025] mentions that the "bronze baptismal font is said to have been made using a molten Ottoman cannon" [NB: it gives a source reference to the to the Evangelische Kirchengemeinde above but we were no able to locate the original reference in German there]. The entry for this church in the Sibiu-Tourism site [http://www.sibiu-turism.ro/Culture-and-Heritage-Religious-Heritage-Other-churches-The-Evangelical-Cathedral.aspx] [accessed 29 November 2025] mentions the font: "The church choir houses a beautiful font said to have been cast in 1438 from the bronze of the Turkish canons captured at Sibiu during a battle". Noted also in the Patrimoniu Sibiu site [https://patrimoniu.sibiu.ro/biserici_en/biserica/53] [accessed 29 November 2025]: "In the choir, in the church axis, one can find one of the most beautiful bronze fonts existing in our country. It has the shape of a calyx [sic] with a sole, foot, knot and basin, being decorated with a series of gothic inscriptions. Also, 228 booklets [sic] in relief adorn its surface, most of them being figurative representations of Byzantine influence. The font dates back from 1438 being the work of master Leonhardus. It is supposed that it was cast in the bronze resulting from the Turkish cannons captured by the inhabitants of Sibiu in 1437." This font is included in the Wikimedia "Map and list oc cast baptismal fonts" [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Map_and_list_of_cast_baptismal_fonts] [accessed 29 November 2025].
The font consists of a bucket-shaped basin the sides of which are divided in four horizontal bands: the upper band, just below the moulded rim, has a number of varied motifs, animals and symbols all around; the three bands below include running inscriptions in Gothic lettering; the pedestal base has four sections: 1)at the top the narrow cylindrical segment includes more inscriptions; 2)in the centre of the stem is an open-work sphere decorated with multiple motifs, medallions, etc.; 3)the lower segment of the stem has three bands with multiple motifs, symbols and an inscriptio; 4)the splaying lower base is round and covered with multiple motifs, symbols, medallions and tiny figures. There is no font cover present but the upper rim of the basin has two metal loops at opposite ends, the locking anchorings for the missing cover.