Stock No: 14554

An impressive and large baptismal font entirely carved from Ashburton Marble. This is a soft grey and blush pink, lightly veined marble with evidence of fossil remains of creatures, principally corals, crinoids and brachiopods, that lived in the Devonian Sea 360-380 million years ago, It was quarried in Devon in the west of England mainly during the 19th century. The deep, round font bowl sits on a sturdy circular column and is further supported by four tall Ashburton and Swedish Green Marble pillars. The whole font rests on it's original, octagonal stone base. English, late 19th century.

Notes: Ashburton Marble is more accurately a form of limestone and not a true marble but was described as such as it was capable of taking a high polish resembling marble. It was brought to prominence in the Victorian era. In 1852 a Devon newspaper 'The Western Times', reported that some large blocks of marble had been excavated from quarries adjoining the ancient Stannary Town of Ashburton. It was suggested at the time that the marble be used for the making of chimneypieces as the veins and colour were considered very decorative and superior to that found in any other quarry in South Devon. It featured in many of of the great houses, buildings and churches throughout the country including Salisbury Cathedral. This marble was still being quarried at the Linhay Quarry into the late 20th century.

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