Rocquancourt (Calvados)
Church of St Martin

Baptismal font

12th century 

This baptismal font originates from the church of Saint-Martin in Rocquancourt (Calvados). It was carved in limestone during the 12th century.
The interlacing motif is typical of many of the Norman works of art of the period, but only the baptismal fonts in Rocquancourt and Montebourg (Manche) have survived. More numerous examples survive in England. The interlacing motif in groups of eight knots could be a symbolic reference to eternity linked to the rite of baptism.

Dimensions of the object
H. 0.69 m ; Diam. ext. 0.92 m  

Bibliography
- Bulletin de la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie, volume VI, page 37
- Les Normands, peuple d'Europe, Catalogue de l'exposition, Rome, Venise, 1994. - Paris, Flammarion, 1995, p. 491
- Loisel C, Inventaire de la collection lapidaire romane réunie par la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie, Mémoire de maîtrise, Université de Caen, 1972
- Thybert H, Inventaire du lapidaire roman du Musée de Normandie, Association Caen-Archéologie, 1992

Location
Musée de Normandie, Caen, Calvados
DSAN 83 1218 052, Dépôt de la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie