sufficiently legitimate form; but it is not easy to account for the much greater variety of Pentagonal and Heptagonal Fonts, on any principles either of symbolism or construction. Perhaps these figures are more difficult to draw with accuracy than a Hexagon; but the sides of the less usual angular shapes. are often so irregular, that geometrical precision would seem to have been little regarded. The material of Fonts is almost universally either lead or stone;" sometimes, but rarely, Purbeck marble is used, especially in earlier examples, as at Winchester Cathedral. A Perpendicular Font is made of it at All Saints, Stamford. There is no doubt. that many Fonts were gorgeously painted and gilt, as vestiges of rich colouring may sometimes be detected (as at Blythborough, Suffolk,) on removing the coatings of wash; and the existence of many wooden covers at the present day similarly decorated renders it sufficiently probable that the same ornament was extended, as we know in other cases it frequently was, to the stone basin itself. No wooden Fonts, we believe, are known to exist, if we except that at Chobham, Surrey, which is of lead surrounded by wooden panels, and the interesting example at Efencchtyd near Ruthin, where is a plain octagonal block of oak. It is not improbable that such may have been occasionally used in very early times. Several ancient Fonts of lead yet remain. They are all circular, and probably of late Norman date. Of The above list only supplies some examples; a great many more might be named. Durandus, vi. 82. 25.
- Simpson's Baptismal Fonts, Preface, p. viii.
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