DERBYSHIRE FONTS. jr, 



century, to the printing type which was imitated from the 

 caligraphy of the fifteenth century. All the early books— such 

 as those of Caxton— are printed in this style of type. During 

 the sixteenth century, black-letter, as it was called a century 

 later, died out. 



On the bowl of this font, therefore, are portions of sculpture 

 illustrating the work of the Norman, Transitional-Norman, Early 

 English, and Perpendicular styles, apparently. Now it is very- 

 evident that it cannot belong to four different styles at once, 

 therefore it is most likely that it was carved at a time which 

 embraced the Norman and Eariy English styles, viz., the 

 Transitional-Norman, and that it was left unfinished,' as appears 

 to this day, and some of the blank panels were filled with 

 ornaments of Perpendicular date. 



In describing the ornament, I will begin with the left-hand 

 side of the bowl in fig. i. 



First is a panel of leaf-forms, having a strong Early English 

 appearance; beneath are two buds. On the right of this p'lnel 

 (centre of fig. i) are two curious skirted human beings holding 

 a book between them; intended, possibly, for angels singing"! 

 On the right of fig. i is a square label containing the letters 

 I.H.S. in "black-letter." Beneath are two oak leaves. 



Continuing the description of the bowl in fig. 2 :— On the 

 left is the well-known " Chi rho " monogram of Christ somewhat 

 altered by the addition of the " iota,"' which is " dotted " over 

 the "rho." The simple "Chi rho" monogram has been a 

 feature, though not a strong one, of English symbolic sculpture 

 ever since Romano-British days. 



On the right of the monogram is a curious conventional 

 arrangement of leaf forms in a square, with hollow centre; 

 below, as in the previous panel, are two budding leaves. 



On the extreme right of fig. 2 is a sunk square panel enclos- 

 ing a human head. I have considerable doubts as to whether 

 this is Transitional-Norman or not, and rather incline to the 

 belief that it is much later. Beneath are two buds. 



Continuing in fig. 3 :— On the right of the afore-mentioned 

 head is a panel containing the letters I.H.S. again; the usual 

 two buds, but weakly carved, are beneath this panel. 



