Fireback With The Coat Of Arms Of The Abbey Of The Three Fountains

Animated and richly decorated fireback, cast at the beginning of the 18th century, with the coat of arms of the abbey of the three fountains, order of Cîteaux, commune of Trois-Fontaines-l'Abbaye (Marne), diocese of Chalons-en-Champagne. Saint Bernard sends 12 monks from Clairvaux accompanied by Abbé Roger to the borders of Champagne and Barrois in an area acquired in the forest of Luiz to found a Cistercian abbey. They arrived on October 10, 1118 on a veritable swamp formed by the waters of the Bruxenelle, a small stream fed by three sources (Fontaine Saint-Blaise, Fontaine aux Lentilles and Fontaine du Loup), hence the name of Trois- Fountains. This abbey built between 1160 and 1190 was the first daughter abbey of Clairvaux under the abbey of Saint-Bernard and extended over 70 m in length in a simple and stripped style dear to the first Cistercians. Following the fire of 1703, part of the abbey was destroyed, rebuilt and enlarged from 1716 to 1741 in a classic style with baroque accents, work undertaken by the Cardinal de Tencin, commissioner from 1739 to 1753. The coat of arms is carved on the pediment of the entrance gate to the main courtyard of the abbey, dated 1741. (see our last photo) Our plaque undoubtedly dates from this period of embellishment. A dozen monks still lived there in 1791. It was sold as national property in 1794 and deteriorated over successive owners. Blazon: Three fountains surmounted by a fleur-de-lys and the star of the Virgin. A butt and a miter, pontifical insignia. In crest: A wolf for the Blaise river, a watercourse, whose name means Wolf, located near the abbey and for the two fountains of the same name and a bomb for the production of weapons of the foundry of iron of Wassy sur Blaise, forges that the monks received in 1171 from Count Henri I of Champagne. Thirteen roses on the periphery of our plaque, for the veneration of the Virgin Mary, symbol of the incarnation and the immaculate conception, Saint Bernard having qualified them as "mystical rose". Our plaque was found in the fireplace of an outbuilding of the Abbey around 1980. A very slight crack is to be noted in the lower part. Its weight is 152 kg. Bibliography: PALASI P., heraldic firebacks, Gourcuff Gradenigo, Paris, page 284 N ° 625. Revue Folklore de Champagne, December 76, N ° 54. Thanks to Christine Chazeau and Stephen Kinloch-Pichat for their precious help. You can visit our site: www.claudeaugustin.com