Roman 4th century Baptistery

[Caballo]

A rather fine Late Roman lead container- possibly a portable baptistery- found near a villa in Oxfordshire and currently in the museum store.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

The Basilica Punch bowl with a Chi-Rho!? Made of lead. Explains a lot!
Thanks for posting!
Why portable though? it looks quite big!

[Caballo]

The theory that it is portable comes from the two "handles" with holes. Possibly for carrying. Possibly just hanging it near a water source. But the empty vessel can be carried comfortably by two people , I am told.

[Robert Vermaat]

Very nice example, indeed.

The theory that it is portable comes from the two "handles" with holes. Possibly for carrying. Possibly just hanging it near a water source. But the empty vessel can be carried comfortably by two people , I am told.

I guess that anything that's not constructed on the spot and meant not to be moved (ever) can be labelled as 'portable'. If it was to be transported from the guy who created it to the place where his customer resided, it would have to be 'portable' as well.

However, it's a very different if this object was constructed as 'portable', for a specific reason. I have problems with labels such as this, because archaeologist all too often 'read into' objects what is not there. I see here an idea that some baptiseries would 'have to be' portable to be transported for a religious purpose. But as this object goes this theory cannot be supported.

[Medicus matt]

Possibly just hanging it near a water source. .

As it's lead, you'd imagine that there would be obvious signs of wear if it had been hung by rope or chains for any length of time.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Thats what I was thinking. I suppose it could be carried to a storage area when it was not being used though?

[Robert Vermaat]

As it's lead, you'd imagine that there would be obvious signs of wear if it had been hung by rope or chains for any length of time.

Indeed. Are there such signs?

[M. Demetrius]

Are there any dimensions available?