A substantial holy water stoup formed from coarse local limestone, standing on a rectangular base with a thick cylindrical shaft and a rounded, cushion-shaped basin above. The overall silhouette is compact and massive, typical of Romanesque liturgical furnishings. The bowl is shallow and irregular in shape, its rim rounded from centuries of use.

The carving is minimal: the form depends entirely on its volume and solid geometry. The stone retains tool marks and areas of uneven working, particularly around the basin’s underside, suggesting that the piece was shaped with hand tools on site rather than in a workshop.

Stylistic Context

This stoup belongs to a well-established regional type found across the Berry and Touraine borderlands, where early medieval churches often preserved such monolithic fixtures. Its cushion-like basin echoes Romanesque capital forms, and its simplicity reflects the functional austerity of rural religious architecture during the 11ᵗʰ and 12ᵗʰ centuries.

Its placement near the church entrance would have allowed parishioners to dip their fingers in holy water upon entering or leaving the nave. The stoup’s robust, almost architectural proportions mark it as both a devotional and structural element within the sacred space.

Condition

Good overall stability, with minor chipping and erosion consistent with age. The surface bears traces of limewash and scattered tooling marks. A small iron cross, now affixed to the basin rim, is a later devotional addition.

Summary

This Romanesque stoup from Meusnes represents the enduring medieval tradition of carved stone bénitiers in rural churches. Its monumental simplicity and durable craftsmanship connect it to the earliest phases of ecclesiastical stone carving in the region, standing in marked contrast to the decorative Renaissance and neo-Gothic fonts of later centuries.