Defiled Baptismal Font

Born in the late 1500s in Silkeborg, central Denmark, Kirsten Lauridsdatter began her life on a farm before relocating to Køge, south of Copenhagen, to work as a maid for Johanne Thomes, the wife of a merchant. This move had dire consequences for Lauridsdatter, culminating in her involvement in the notorious Køge Huskors witch trials.

Lauridsdatter’s fate was sealed when she was sentenced in 1612 to be burned at the stake for admitting to urinating in the baptismal font at Saint Nicolai Church in Køge. She confessed after being coerced by her employer and another woman, who were convicted of sorcery. They allegedly promised the maid 10 feet (3 meters) of woolen cloth and convinced her that the blasphemous ritual would cure her debilitating hip injury.

The Romanesque baptismal font, dated circa 1250 and made of sandstone, was originally a revered church artifact. However, it was considered defiled by Lauridsdatter’s act and subsequently discarded. Buried and later unearthed during road construction in the 1800s, the font was repurposed as a flowerpot. In 1937, it found its way to Køge Museum, where it resides to this day.

Fast forward to 2023, when photographer and designer Jim Lyngvild, renowned for his kitsch style, curated a witch exhibit at Køge Museum centered around the historical baptismal font pivotal to Lauridsdatter’s story. Lyngvild sparked controversy by posting a Facebook inquiry seeking a female volunteer to recreate the urination scene, igniting lively discussions and drawing considerable attention. Eventually, a suitable participant was found.