Un objet énigmatique

An enigmatic object and floor cover tiles

Ceramic tiles appear in Andenne as early as the 12th century and their manufacturing goes on at least until the second half of the 14th century. The decorative patterns are generally of heraldic type.

The floor cover tiles – you can see the manufacturing process in the showcase – are used in castles, churches and abbeys.

An enigmatic object (candleholder or font) was found in 1990 during the excavations in the crypt of the old church Sainte Marie Majeure, the biggest one of the 7 Romanic churches that were situated in the past on the

present Chapter Square. It is curious that on this object, that is divided in 3 parts, numerous figures are shaped showing what could be understood as a picture of the different diseases of that time (scrawny persons, bodies covered with skin eruptions, venereal diseases).

“Andana ad septem ecclesias”, Andenne with the 7 churches was a place of pilgrimage. In the “Vitae S. Beggae”, written in the 12th century to attract the pilgrims, the last 5 chap-ters are dedicated to miraculous healings.

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