Home stoup
Encyclopedia
A home stoup was a small font
with a small bowl and a decorated plaque that Catholic people
hung inside their homes, either in the entrance, or more often on the wall of their bedroom, near the head of their bed. Sometimes, they put on it a piece of blessed buxus
, or they hung a rosary ring.
The small bowl contained holy water
. Everybody in the home used it to sign himself on the morning, and to make the sign of the cross
over her bed before bedtime.
The use of these stoups began in the earliest centuries of the Catholic Church. They were made of expensive materials (gold, silver...) or cheap ones (faience
, ceramic, wood) depending on the fortunes of their owner. They were hand-made with a painting or relief of Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy Cross
, the Virgin Mary
, an angel
, or other religious subjects.
Most of theses stoups were destroyed and disappeared during the French Revolution
in 1789 and following years.
In the nineteenth century, most of the these stoups were made in ceramic
. Some were unique pieces with the first and last name of their future owner. They were given for special events, such as birth, First Communion
, or a wedding
.
These stoups were also given from parents to children, but their use decreased in France after 1900. Today, they are collected by amateurs of pieces of art.
Holy water font
A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is used in Catholic Church and Lutheran churches, as well as some Anglican churches to make the Sign of the Cross using the holy water upon entrance and exit...
with a small bowl and a decorated plaque that Catholic people
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
hung inside their homes, either in the entrance, or more often on the wall of their bedroom, near the head of their bed. Sometimes, they put on it a piece of blessed buxus
Buxus
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood ....
, or they hung a rosary ring.
The small bowl contained holy water
Holy water
Holy water is water that, in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and some other churches, has been sanctified by a priest for the purpose of baptism, the blessing of persons, places, and objects; or as a means of repelling evil.The use for baptism and...
. Everybody in the home used it to sign himself on the morning, and to make the sign of the cross
Sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross , or crossing oneself, is a ritual hand motion made by members of many branches of Christianity, often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of a trinitarian formula....
over her bed before bedtime.
The use of these stoups began in the earliest centuries of the Catholic Church. They were made of expensive materials (gold, silver...) or cheap ones (faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
, ceramic, wood) depending on the fortunes of their owner. They were hand-made with a painting or relief of Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy Cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, the Virgin Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
, or other religious subjects.
Most of theses stoups were destroyed and disappeared during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in 1789 and following years.
In the nineteenth century, most of the these stoups were made in ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
. Some were unique pieces with the first and last name of their future owner. They were given for special events, such as birth, First Communion
First Communion
The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church...
, or a wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
.
These stoups were also given from parents to children, but their use decreased in France after 1900. Today, they are collected by amateurs of pieces of art.