51 



I3crti)st)uc Jfonts. 



By G. Le Blanc Smith. 



DECOIL\TED PERIOD. 



HE period of Ecclesiastical architecture which is 

 usually known by the ver)- broad name of " Decor- 

 ated " has no very numerous examples of fonts in 

 Derbyshire. 

 It is a curious fact that this Decorated style, which perhaps 

 owns more beautiful examples of churches than any other style 

 of English architecture, should be the only style in which design, 

 as applied to the Baptismal Font, is so lacking in feature or 

 grace, and in which the workmanship is so rough and so badly 

 executed as to shame, almost, the early Norman sculptor. 

 Yet such is the case ; poor quality of design, coupled with work- 

 manship of an even worse quality, are the almost invariable 

 characteristics of this period. 



The Decorated style followed the Early English style, exam- 

 ples of whose fonts were given in the Journal of last year. 

 The latter was the lirst to use the pointed window, and in the 

 Decorated style we see this pointed window undergoing a pro- 

 cess of evolution, resolving into one with a pK)inted head, but 

 filled with other pointed windows, i.e., tracery. 



The principal fonts of this Decorated period which yet remain 

 in Derbyshire are at Bradboume, Bakewell, Ballidon, 

 Chaddesden, Hartington, Monyash, Sandiacre. 



