Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Pilas Bautismales

The Dom (= Cathedral) in Wetzlar is not really a cathedral, as it was never seat of a bishop. The construction began in 1230 and the church is is still unfinished (see the tower). Because of its long period of construction, the church combines Romanesque, Gothic and even Baroque architecture. When it was built, it replaced an older Romanesque church from the 12th century of which some parts got integrated in the new church. The Wetzlar-Dom has been used as a simultaneum by both Roman Catholics and Protestants since the 16th century. The Romanesque baptismal font may have been used already in the preceding church.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber".

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. When I tried to visit this church and see the baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece, I was not aware, that exactly that sunday in 2013 Belgium’s King Albert II passed the crown to Prince Philippe, who, since then is King Philippe I. As this was a National Day - the church was closed. Now I was lucky and could enter the church and could see the baptismal font, that is attributed to Renier de Huy.

Séligné is a small hamlet (pop. ~100). The Romanesque church "Notre-Dame", is situated next to the graveyard. The main portal was locked, but a little side door stood open. This octogonal baptismal font may well be as old as the church.

Romeno is a small village in the Val di Non. The small church, outside the village, is surrounded by orchards. It may date back to the 8th century, though it was mentioned first time in 1187. Soon after the interior walls of Santi Bartolomeo e Tommaso were adorned with murals. Some of the frescoes (dated to 1210) still exist. This huge baptismal font (diam. 1,30m) placed near the entrance. is dated 12th century. Following the information given here, it was moved to Santi Bartolomeo e Tommaso from the local parish church in 1773. At that time Romano´s parish got a new, trendy, baroque baptismal font.

The first church ever built here, was near the sea, where Saint Guirec, a missionary from Wales, went ashore in the 6th century. The parish church seen here was erected little inland, on a hill ("Perros" - "Pen-roz") and was dedicated to Saint Guirec. Within the 11th century, the first pilgrims on their way to Santiago passed through and so Saint-Jaques was added. Five bays of the 11th century the nave still exist. The eastern 6 bays and the choir were added in Gothic style later. The old, Romanesque nave is flanked by massive, granite pillars. Some of them have strange, rough carvings. Near the entrance is this baptismal font, probably dating back to the 12th century. Three men hold it. Two of them hold their arms up like atlants, while the third one, seen here, holds the large font like a barrel.

The first church ever built here, was near the sea, where Saint Guirec, a missionary from Wales, went ashore in the 6th century. The parish church seen here was erected little inland, on a hill ("Perros" - "Pen-roz") and was dedicated to Saint Guirec. Within the 11th century, the first pilgrims on their way to Santiago passed through and so Saint-Jaques was added. Five bays of the 11th century the nave still exist. The eastern 6 bays and the choir were added in Gothic style later. The old, Romanesque nave is flanked by massive, granite pillars. Some of them have strange, rough carvings. Near the entrance is this baptismal font, probably dating back to the 12th century. Three men hold it. They all have a strange anatomy, as they are obviously able to turn the head completely. The two seen here hold the baptismal font like atlants.