Medieval bronze fifths of the Low German cultural area

Medieval Bronzefünten the Low German cultural area are font of bronze , which, starting replaced with the 13th century, especially in the Hanseatic towns on the southern Baltic coast, up to then usual stone baptisms that often, but mostly granite limestone from the island of Gotland were made . The more elaborate bronze feet took into account the increased need for representation and enabled a more filigree pictorial program .

The import of baptismal fonts made of limestone from the Swedish island of Gotland to northern Germany and the example of the baptism of the Swedish bishop Beno Korp on Fehmarn clearly show that the Hanseatic merchants of the Middle Ages regarded baptismal kettles as commodities as well as retables , triumphal crosses or other sacred furnishings. The southern border of the Hanseatic League's sphere of influence can be roughly described by a curve that leads roughly from Cologne via Göttingen , Halle (Saale) and Frankfurt (Oder) to Thorn . Almost all surviving medieval bronze fences are (or were originally) north of this line.

The following list is intended to record the remaining specimens in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania , northeastern Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein in chronological order and, as far as possible, assign them to the donors and the founders who carried out the work. After the turning point of the Reformation , the Gothic forms shown here were followed by baroque baptisms in northern Germany, the design of which no longer reflected the basin as a baptismal barrel to the same extent as it used to. In the Duchy of Schleswig , however, at the end of the 16th century, Michael Dibler, for example, cast additional baptismal barrels in bronze, which have been preserved in the St. Nicolaikirche in Eckernförde (1588) and the Marienkirche in Flensburg (1591). Their shape is still based on the Gothic baptismal font. The tapes written in Latin script and the image program, however, assign them to the Renaissance , which is why they are not included in the list below. In Denmark, the Gothic Fünten in Ribe Cathedral (1375), in Århus Cathedral (1481) and the cast in Flensburg Fünten of the Marienkirche Hadersleben (1485) are among the better-known examples. But also on the Polish Baltic coast the occurrence of baptisms of this kind continues in larger churches. As an example, reference is made to the Fifth in Kolberg Cathedral (1345).

table

Medieval cast bronze Fünten (13th to 15th / 16th centuries)

Location	Caster	year	Remarks	Illustration
Eddelak , St. Marien		around 1200	Probably the oldest bronze fifth in Schleswig-Holstein. The simple kettle stands on three paw feet.	Image wanted
Tellingstedt, St. Martin		13th Century	The simple kettle stands on three paw feet. The baptismal font is baroque.
Hamburg-Blankenese, church on the market		13th Century	The Fünte comes from the Nienstedten church , which it left to the branch church in 1896. The inscription SIT FONS VIVUS AQUA REGENERANS UNDA PURIFICANS (Let there be a living spring, water of rebirth, cleansing wave) from the blessing of the water of baptism on Easter vigil is mirrored.
Eberswalde, St. Maria Magdalena		13th Century	Cup with weak nodus, three short paw feet
Brandenburg an der Havel, St. Gotthardt		13th Century	Cup without nodus with four additional straps	Image wanted
Halberstadt , St. Johannis		13th Century	Cup resting on four lions	Image wanted
Delve , St. Marien		second half of the 13th century	Cauldron with small relief figures (Mary, Crucifixion) carried by four figures on a stand ring
Halberstadt, cathedral		second half of the 13th century	The kettle rests on three small feet and shows the remains of a painting. The reliefs depict scenes from the childhood of Jesus. The fifth is in the cathedral treasury.
Altenkrempe, basilica	Master Johannes	late 13th century	Cup shape, only bronze cup
Bad Bramstedt , St. Maria Magdalena		late 13th century
Rostock, St. Marien	Lower Saxony foundry	dated 1290	Similarities with the bronze baptism of 1225 in Hildesheim Cathedral point to the artists' origin in Lower Saxony . The kettle and lid are stylistically distinct and come from different masters. An inscription dates the casting or consecration of the baptismal font to Easter 1290.
Nuremberg, Germanic National Museum		around 1300	The fifth comes from the Marienkirche in Hemmingstedt .	Image wanted
Büsum, St. Clemens		around 1300	According to tradition, it was stolen from the Pellworm Church by pirates in the 15th century
Marne , St. Mary Magdalene		around 1300		Image wanted
Meldorf, St. Johannis	Master Ulricus	around 1300
Osterwieck, St. Stephani		around 1300	Cup with a diameter of 89 cm on four supports	Image wanted
Klein-Mutz , village church		early 14th century	four carriers on a high standing ring	Image wanted
Ludingworth, St. Jacobi		early 14th century
Angermünde, St. Marien	Johannes Justus	early 14th century
Altenbruch, St. Nicolai	Master Ulricus (?)	early 14th century	Inscription + Qvi. baptizatvr. hoc. fonte. lavatvr (He who is baptized in this well will be purified); presumably heatable; Christening lid and wooden lattice from 1672
Lueneburg, St. Nicolai	Master Ulricus	around 1325	Taken from the Cyriacus Church in Lüneburg, which was broken down in 1651	Image wanted
Munster, cathedral		first half of the 14th century	Cup with nodus carried by five lions. The baptism could also be made of brass (sources are contradicting here).
Wismar, St. Nikolai	Attributed to Hans Apengeter	around 1335	The fifth comes from St. Mary's Church, which was blown up in 1960 . Attribution as a model of the fifth in Lübeck's Marienkirche. The top row of the frieze shows scenes from the life of Jesus
Lübeck, St. Marien	Hans Apengeter	dated 1337	The foundryman Hans Apengeter is named on the frieze of the baptism in Middle Low German: Vergip alle Misetat deme di dit Vat made Hans Apengeter called was he and was born van Sassenland. The foundation of this baptism by the Lübeck patricians Eberhard von Alen and Johann von Schepenstede is exceptionally well documented.
Beidenfleth, St. Nicolai		1340	Majusc inscription, reliefs in two rows, four supports on base ring
Wittenburg, St. Bartholomew	Master Wilkin from Lüneburg	1342		Image wanted
Kiel, St. Nikolai	Hans Apengeter	dated 1344	The life story of Jesus is shown in two rows of images. The fifth rests on four lion figures.
Otterndorf, St. Severi		Mid 14th century
Rendsburg, St. Marien		Mid 14th century
Siek, Friedenskirche	Gerhard Kranemann	around 1350
Kolberg, cathedral		dated 1355
Schoenberg, St. Laurentius	Gerhard Kranemann	dated 1357
Munktorp, church ( Köping / Sweden)		around 1360	hexagonal goblet carried by three lions	Image wanted
Barth, St. Marien		after 1360	This fifth is the only preserved bronze baptismal font in Western Pomerania. The octagonal basin shows human and animal heads. Apostles, saints and groups from biblical stories can be seen in pairs in the Gothic rows of gables.
Parchim, St. Marien		1365
Bardowick, St. Peter and Paul Cathedral		1367	baptismal font carried by four figures
Bovenau, St. Maria Magdalena		1375 (?)	with inscription, coins and small reliefs; three carrying figures
Ribe, Dom		1375	With small reliefs in a gable-like frame and six figures on a ring: three angels looking very similar and three fantastic animals alternating. Remnants of painting
Frankfurt (Oder), St. Gertraud	Master Arnold	1376	The fifth comes from St. Mary's Church, which was destroyed in 1945. Important work of art, a hexagonal kettle with a lid on six carrying figures. Numerous reliefs represent the history of salvation.	Image wanted
Altengamme, St. Nicolai		1380
Schwerin, Dom		last quarter of the 14th century	probably made using the lost wax technique
Herrnburg, village church		Late 14th century	The kettle is bell-shaped, the wall is decorated with flat but rich tracery. Around the bottom runs a strip with a stylized vine tendril, on the edge there is a bearded man's head with a device opposite for reattaching the (lost) lid. The legs are thickened in their upper part and covered with scales, leaf-like structures close them off at the bottom, the feet form broad animal claws.	Image wanted
Elbing , St. Nikolai Cathedral	Master Bernhauser	1387
Castle on Fehmarn, St. Nikolai	Apengeter district	dated 1391	Latin inscription anno milleno tricenteno nonageno primo non pleno fontem dedit hunc michi beno korp episcopus arosiensis . Loosely translated In 1391 (not fully) I was baptized by Beno Korp, Bishop of Arosia . The hexagonal Gothic bronze baptismal font in the shape of a goblet is of Lübsch origin and is assigned to the Apengeter district. The capacity is about 195 liters (3 ohms ). The circumstances through which the baptismal font came to Fehmarn has not yet been fully clarified. Arosia was Västerås , when the Viking Age was founded as a trading center under the name Aros . A copy (cast) has been in Västerås Cathedral since 1955 as the original destination.
Hannoversch Münden, St. Blasius	Nicholas of Szczecin	dated 1392	The baptismal font, decorated with saints, rests on four specially designed feet. Four male figures ride on dragons, which in turn lean on figures that look something between lions and dogs - that is, real hellhounds. This symbolizes the victory of the church over the powers of darkness, which have to carry the baptismal font here. The baptism is the oldest piece of equipment in the church.
Berlin-Spandau, St. Nikolai	presumably Braunschweig Ludolfus workshop	1398	The bronze baptism in St. Nikolai is a four-member with a bottom ring, whereby it represents the oldest dated baptismal font in Berlin-Brandenburg. The Latin inscription in honor of the Virgin Mary dates the consecration of the baptismal font to 1398. The baptismal font is held by four figures of saints, which are the apostles Johannes, Matthäus, Jakobus the Elder. Ä. and an indefinite figure can act. The brass lid dates from 1839.
Heiligenstadt, St. Martin		around 1400	One of the few bronze baptismal fonts in the shape of a bucket. The dating is very uncertain.
Strängnäs, Dom		around 1400	four supports on a support ring closed at the top, bell-shaped bowl
Linköping, Dom		around 1400
Halberstadt, St. Martini		around 1400	One of the few fifths whose figures symbolize the four rivers of Paradise . Otherwise there is no colored painting either.
Salzwedel, St. Katharinen		1421
Gettorf, St. Jürgen		1424	With reliefs from the childhood story of Jesus; four men in Burgundian costume as carrying figures.
Einbeck, St. Alexandri		1427
Nordhausen , Justus Jonas Church	Master Tile	1429	The fifth comes from the St. Petri Church, which was destroyed in 1945 .
Halle (Saale), market church		1430	four carriers on a high standing ring
Varde , St. Jacobi	Niels Klokkestøber	1437	four supports on a stand ring	Image wanted
Berlin-Mitte, St. Marien		1437	Four mythical creatures with screwed-on wing legs on a round plate carry the fifth.
Hittfeld, St. Mauritius	Lorenz Grove	dated 1438
Handorf , St. Marien	Lorenz Grove	1440		Image wanted
Ratzeburg, cathedral		1440
Brandenburg an der Havel, St. Katharinen	Tyterich Molner from Erfurt	1440		Image wanted
Naumburg, St. Wenceslas		1441	Cup with a hexagonal cup on a round base, possibly donated by Peter von Schleinitz	Image wanted
Osterburg, St. Nikolai	Master Volker	1442		Image wanted
Haseldorf, St. Gabriel		dated 1445	The base ring of this fifth is provided with a round arch frieze and four coats of arms. Four figures carry the cauldron-like cup . There is an inscription all around. Small reliefs show depictions of Mary, a group of crosses and Saint George .
Bad Segeberg, St. Marien	Ghert Klinghe	dated 1447
Nordby ( Fanø ), Nordby Kirke		Mid 15th century	Diameter 61.5 cm; Marble base from 1887
Prenzlau, St. Nikolai monastery church		15th century	The fifth comes from St. Mary's Church, which burned down in 1945 . Cup with weak nodus, the foot rests on three animal figures, three supports between the foot and the kuppa, the kuppa is 1 m in diameter. 13 keel-arched fields show Christ as judge and the twelve apostles.	Image wanted
Gadebusch, St. Jakob and St. Dionysius		dated 1450	According to the surrounding inscription of the Fünte with the corresponding coat of arms and the initials HK, this baptism was donated in 1450 by the priest Hinrich Koppelmann. Three kneeling angels carry the round cauldron, which is adorned by two circumferential rows, each separated by the inscription, with eleven separately cast, riveted reliefs . Under low tracery arches , scenes of the Passion of Christ and the founder of the Fünte are depicted. The casting technique and the type of plastic representation make this bronze fountain one of the most important in northeast Germany, alongside those of the Marienkirche in Rostock and the Nikolaikirche in Wismar.
Probsteierhagen , St. Katharinen		1454
Groothusen, church	Ghert Klinghe	1454	The pool rests on four deacons. On the wall, the crucifixion is depicted amidst the standing figures of apostles, the Madonna and Saint Mauritius.
Lübeck, St. Aegidien	Hinrich Gerwiges	dated 1453	The simple Gothic bronze fountain in Aegidien is initially invisible behind the splendid Baroque renovation from 1710. The baptismal barrel is carried by three clerics on their left shoulders. The other decoration consists only of the Latin capitals. Beseler points out that the now smooth middle field was originally provided with figure niches that were soldered onto the kettle.
Lübeck, cathedral	Lorenz Grove	dated 1455	This baptismal font shows twelve relief figures (blessing Savior with victory flag, Mary, nine apostles and Saint Dorothea ). The art historian Max Hasse has pointed out that the relief figures show features of the Soft Style . Their forms were probably older. When the basin was made using the clay shirt process, the relief figures were riveted onto the boiler as separate cast parts after the boiler was cast. The combination with the relatively large figure of St. Dorothea is also unusual. The kettle stands on a central, chalice-shaped foot and on the outside on three kneeling angels. It is signed Laurens grove .
Aschersleben, St. Stephani		1464	Cup with three additional straps, reliefs in a keel arch arcature.	Image wanted
Lübeck, St. Jakobi	Klaus Grude	dated 1466	The bronze baptismal font is signed and dated by Grude during the casting with Pentecost 1466. It was a testamentary foundation of the Lübeck councilor Johann Broling . The basin stands on the same feet in the shape of kneeling angels as Lorenz Grove's baptismal font from 1455 in Lübeck Cathedral . From this it is concluded that the Grove forms must have passed to Klaus Grude. On the outside of the cauldron, nine reliefs with pictures of the apostles are riveted, so the baptismal font was not cast in one piece.
Gardelegen, Marienkirche		dated 1466	The baptismal font comes from the Nikolaikirche in Gardelegen . It shows a crucifixion group, the twelve apostles and St. Nicholas
Lauenburg, St. Maria Magdalena	Cord Friedebusch	dated 1466		Image wanted
Pilsum, Kreuzkirche	Hinrich Klinghe	1469	The basin rests on four deacons as standing figures, whose heads are represented by the evangelist symbols. The evangelists Matthew and Mark are both mistakenly referred to as "sanctus marcus". The names of the figures in the fields, which are separated from each other by small musicians' figures, are given on sash inscriptions . The crucifixion scene with Mary and John is followed by twelve apostles (with Paul and Matthias instead of Judas Iscariot and Judas Thaddäus ) and Bishop Nicholas .
Zeven , St. Viti	Hinrich Klinghe	1469	Signed “ghert klinge”, but attributed to Hinrich Klinghe for stylistic reasons. Three deacons carry the basin, on the wall of which the crucifixion scene and ten apostles are depicted in relief.	Image wanted
Bramstedt , St. Jacobi	Hinrich Klinghe	1469	The pool rests on four deacons. Biblical figures are shown in the fields.
Eilsum, church	Barthold Klinghe the Elder	1472	Four deacons carry the basin, on the wall of which Christ, Mary and the Apostles appear.
Weary, St. Laurentius	Hinrich Klinghe	1473	Three deacons as standing figures carry the basin. Keel arches structure the basin wall. Above it are lily ornaments, in the fields below there are apostle figures with their attributes.
Bützow, collegiate church		1474		Image wanted
Esens, St. Magnus	Hinrich Klinghe	1474	The four sphinxes on which the basin rests were added later (around 1600). The basin walls are structured by keel arches. The crucifixion scene with Mary and John occupies the largest representation. This is followed by five apostles, a relief of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan , a holy bishop and another five apostles.
Uttum, church	Hinrich Klinghe	1474	The pool rests on four deacons. After the crucifixion scene, five apostles, Bishop Nicholas, Christ's baptism and another five apostles follow on the basin wall.
Stendal, St. Marien	Lübeck master	1474
Pellworm, old church	Hinrich Klinghe	1475	Originally donated by Laurens Leve for the church at Buphever, which went down in the Burchardi flood in 1634.	Image wanted
Warsaw, National Museum	Jodocus diving	1475	The fifth comes from the Elisabeth Church in Wroclaw and was transferred to the National Museum in Warsaw in 1946.
Schleswig, cathedral	Hinrich Klinghe	1480	Unsigned. Attributed to Hinrich Klinghe because of its resemblance to Pellwormer Fünte, also donated by Laurens Leve . Baroque girders from 1666 and remnants of painting
Albersdorf , St. Remigius	Klinghe workshop	last quarter of the 15th century	The basin rests on four flat supports on which St. George is depicted in relief. In addition to the baptism of Jesus and Mary with the child, the carefully crafted representations in the fields show the saints Peter, Matthias, Philippus, Jacobus the Elder. J., Jacobus d. Ä., Katharina, Johannes Ev., Remigius, Bartholomäus, Paulus.
Aarhus, St. Clement's Cathedral	Peter Hansen	1481
Hadersleben, Marienkirche	Peter Hansen	1485 in Flensburg	The basin stands on four individual feet, the shape of which is based on the symbols of the four evangelists.
Norderbrarup , Marienkirche	Peter Hansen	1486
Lenzen, St. Katharinen		1486
Halk, St. Jacobi	Peter Hansen	1491
Heiligenstadt, St. Marien	Hans Tegetmeiger and Arnt Eddelendes	1492	Grape-shaped kettle on three supports
Wiegboldsbur, Wibadi Church	Peter Clockgether	dated 1496	Is carried by four knights. The crucifixion scene and apostles can be seen under the keel arches in the basin wall.
Flensburg, St. Nikolai	Peter Hansen	1497	Kuppa in the shape of a cauldron on four evangelists as standing figures. The bell founder Hansen created the baptismal font in Norderbrarup as early as 1486 .
Debstedt, St. Dionysius	Goteke Klinghe	1497		Image wanted
Næstved , St. Petri		around 1500	Cup without a nodus, stylistically on the threshold of the Renaissance
Heiligenstadt, St. Aegidien	Hans Rese	1507		Image wanted
Kröpelin, city church	Andreas Ribe	1508
Mölln, St. Nicolai	Peter Wulf	1509
Eutin, St. Michaelis		1511
Rostock, St. Petri	Andreas Ribe	1512	Bell-shaped cauldron with three fur-clad carrier figures, on the wall two rows of relief figures
Næstved , St. Mortens		1515	Four lions as carrying figures	Image wanted
Flintbek, church	Reymer Jappe	1515
Salzwedel, St. Marien	Hans of Cologne	1522

literature

Wikisource: Glockenkunde # Fünten  - Sources and full texts

• Johannes Baltzer , Friedrich Bruns: The architectural and art monuments of the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck. Issued by the building authorities. Volume III: Church of Old Lübeck. Dom. Jakobikirche. Aegidia Church. Nöhring, Lübeck 1920. Unchanged reprint 2001, ISBN 3-89557-167-9 .
• Hartwig Beseler (ed.): Art topography Schleswig-Holstein. Neumünster 1974. New edition 1989, ISBN 3-529-02627-1 .
• Gustav Lindtke: Lübeck bronze baptisms of the Middle Ages. In: The car . 1966, pp. 53-62.
• Albert Mundt: The ore baptisms of northern Germany from the middle of the XIII. until the middle of the 14th century. Dissertation. University of Halle (Saale) 1908. Klinkhardt & Biermann, Leipzig 1908, ( digitized in the Google book search).
• Walter Paatz : The Lübeck bronze production of the 15th and 16th centuries, in: Repertorium für Kunstwissenschaft Vol. 51 (1930) pp. 67–91
• Friedrich Schlie : The art and history monuments of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Volume II: The district court districts of Wismar, Grevesmühlen, Rehna, Gadebusch and Schwerin. Schwerin 1898. Reprint 1992, ISBN 3-910179-06-1 .
• Reinhold Spichal: Were medieval bronze baptismal fonts also embodied spatial dimensions? Verification Office Bremen, Bremen.
• Wolfgang Teuchert : Baptisms in Schleswig-Holstein. Boyens, Heide in Holstein 1986, ISBN 3-8042-0365-5 (Small Schleswig-Holstein Books 37).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The attribution by Thieme-Becker to the master Ulricus contradicts the dating of Beseler, according to which the Fünte is said to come from the last quarter of the 13th century.
2. ↑ In Lüneburg and the Lower Elbe region verifiable traveling bell founder of the first half of the 14th century, pupil of Herman called Clocgetere. (After Thieme-Becker : Master Ulrich )
3. ↑ according to Mundt (Lit.), p. 10.
4. ↑ Hans Wentzel: The baptismal font of Beno Korp and some related sculptures in Sweden and Northern Germany. 1938. (PDF; 2.9 MB)
5. ^ Jan Seewald, Große Baudenkmäler Heft 344 Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich Berlin, 1993
6. ↑ Beseler (1974), pp. 73 ff.
7. ^ Emil Ferdinand Fehling : Lübeck Council Line. No. 525; † 146 4 (!), Schonen driver ; In his will, he donated 4,000 marks to his city for the construction of the Holsten Gate .
8. ↑ Jürgen Bajerski: Small guide through the St. Marienkirche Gardelegen. Gardelegen 2001.

Web links

• Website with links to photos of Fünten

 Map with all linked sites: OSM | WikiMap