Ceramic holy water font originating from Austria-Hungary, dated to around 1900. A holy water font is a liturgical vessel in the Catholic Church, used for storing holy water. It is most often found at the entrance to a church, while smaller, portable holy water fonts are used by priests during rites such as blessings or processions. Symbolically, holy water fonts alluded to water as purification, as well as the sign of the cross as redemption through Christ. Their use is both memorial (reminder of baptism) and penitential (expression of contrition). This holy water font contains a cross, which directly refers to Jesus Christ; moreover, a symbol of the flaming heart is inscribed within it, in other words, devotion for sins and the Holy Spirit.