An Italian carved white marble font


probably 15th/16th century the circular shaped top carved with a cartouche tablet with inscribed latin biblical inscription taken from the text from the book of Isaiah flanked by undulating ribbons, the low pedestal carved with scallop shells and ribbons above an anthemion capital on a turned and fluted dwarf column support and moulded circular base, 94.5cm high , 54cm diameter
|Provenance:Henry J. Taylor (1902-1984) collection, U.S. ambassador to Switzerland 1957-1961; and thence by descent to Mrs Marion Taylor. Private collection, USA, acquired from the estate of the above in 2009.The text to the font reads 'Anteq(uam) parturiret peperit. Esaias C VL' which translates as 'Before she travailed, she brought forth'. This text appears to be taken from Isaiah 66.7 in the updated version of the Bible, although 'C VL' possibly makes refers to a different version of the text.For a translation commentary on a longer version of the text see https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=J3lKAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA374&dq=antequam+parturiret+peperit&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0n8TkkazXAhXCyKQKHeLRBW8Q6AEIPDAE#v=onepage&q=antequam%20parturiret%20peperit&f=false