The font is Norman (1180-1190) and is one of a group of fonts known as "Aylesbury Fonts" having a cup or chalice shaped bowl with vertical fluting and a twisted band around the centre.
For other evidence of Norman work in the church, see DK005a. Eydon's font does seem to conform to this pattern, having a cup or chalice shaped bowl with vertical fluting and a triple twisted band around the centre. The base in our case is an inverted octagon, with lunettes with (different) carved foliage on each face. You can see why an earlier Churchwarden used to claim that it represented a sheaf of corn tied round its middle with a straw rope binding - corn being a symbol of fertility.
The photo also shows why it was not regarded as one of the best examples of the group, with its lopsided top and fluting. You can understand why the Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture described it as being 'a spectacularly ugly piece, elaborately, if inaccurately carved, with similarities to the Buckinghamshire group.' The Buckinghamshire Group, also known as the Aylesbury Fonts, are a group of 22 fonts, carved at Totternhoe Quarry between 1180-1190, and are found clustered along the Icknield Way.
The two exceptions to this are the fonts at Duston and this at Eydon - both 20 miles to the north of the quarry. It is interesting that most of the fonts, being of Totternhoe stone, are white, as is Eydon's font. Apart from the plain octagonal base, which may be modern, the font is not made from Eydon stone. Although it has been lime washed in the past, the white colour seems to be that of the stone. Maybe this font is from Totternhoe quarry too?
Photographer: Mr David Kench
Image lent by : Mr David Kench
Connected Photos: KL007 | KL037 | DK005a