The original font (seen in the background of the second pic)  was cast in brass around 1220 by an unknown sculptor.

The font is decorated with representations on the cover of Moses and Aaron on either side of an altar, an Allegory of Pity, the Anointing of Christ by St Mary Magdalen, and the Passage through the Read Sea of the Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant, the Baptism of Christ, and the Virgin and Child between two bishops and the Provost Wilbernus at her feet; the figures supporting the font represent the Rivers of Paradise. The font was given to the Cathedral of Hildesheim by Wilbernus, Provost of Hildesheim (1216-20).

This cast was acquired in exchange with the Belgian Royal Commission for Promoting the Reproduction of Works of Art in 1877.  The original is made of brass and was created before 1118 by Rainer of Huy.

The font is decorated with representations of St John the Baptist baptising the Publicans, a group of penitents, and Christ; St Peter baptising Cornelius; and St John the Evangelist baptizing Cato the philosopher. The oxen carrying the font are an analogy to the molten sea supported by oxen in the Temple of Jerusalem (I, Kings, vii. 23) and identified as symbols of the Twelve Apostles by Rupert of Deutz in his treatise De Trinitate written at Liège about 1117. Rupert of Deutz probably sketched out the iconography and symbolism of the font which was commissioned by Abbot Hellinus (1111-18), cast by Rainer of Huy for Notre Dame aux Fonts, and is now in the Church of Saint-Barthémy, Liège.