Firebacks

Initials only firebacks

18 results

  1. 876

    bradford-on-avon,_westwood manor 03.jpg
    730 x 530 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Canted rectangle; complex moulded edging (top and sides); rectangular incised initial stamp repeated ten times 3-4-3.

    Notes: The use of an incised stamp is uncommon.

    Inscription: RTI [repeated 10 times]

    Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.

    Current location: Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.

    Museum number: 222509.1 (part of the National Trust museum group)

  2. 1247

    broomfield,_raswell_house.jpg
    902 x 686 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Low-arched shape with bevelled edging (top and sides); in each top corner, capital letter 'P' below a stylised earl's coronet, the serif at the foot of the P facing outwards on each side of the fireback.

    Notes: Evidently intended to relate to the property of, or commemorating, an earl; the earldom in question has not been identified.

    Inscription: P P

    Manufactured: in the 20th century in England.

    Current location: in private hands, Broomfield, Somerset, England.

  3. 221

    buxted,_ridgeway.jpg
    665 x 455 mm

    Description: Rectangular; plain plate; inscription in capitals split between top corners, ‘I’ crossed.

    Notes: The letters are likely to have been formed by tracing their shape in the casting sand using a pointed implement.

    Inscription: I R

    Manufactured: in the early 17th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Buxted, East Sussex, England.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  4. 1124

    cirencester,_the pedestal 01.jpg
    920 x 500 mm

    Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); initial in each top corner, the S angled to the right.

    Notes: Initial letters are in high relief. The Pedestal Auction, Cirencester, 4 Mar 2019, lot 155 (£240).

    Inscription: W S

    Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.

    Current location:, not known.

  5. 1024

    crowther_03.jpg
    1270 x 851 mm

    Description: Canted rectangular shape with canted arch; probable twisted leather edging (top and sides); top centre, initials RB formed of individual carved letters; centre, widely spaced, letters M H formed of short lengths of probable twisted leather.

    Notes: An unusually shaped fireback

    Inscription: RB / M H

    Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century in England.

    Current location:, not known.

  6. 1051

    every_catalogue 01.jpg
    ~730 x ~670 mm

    Description: Rectangular with triangular arch; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); small stamp of a ‘Renaissance’ shield bearing the initials IC, repeated eight times 3-2-3) in a regular arrangement.

    Notes: The initials have not been identified.

    Inscription: IC

    Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location:, not known.

  7. 169

    hastings_056.jpg
    1219 x 470 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); inscription made of short lengths of twisted rope, irregularly spaced across upper middle, central device formed of a Tudor 'A' with overstamped 'V'.

    Notes: It is not clear if the central device is a monogram, or if it might have apotropaic significance.

    Inscription: T A M T

    Manufactured: in the early to mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: HASMG: 1911.60.7 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

    Citation: Easton, T. & Hodgkinson, J. S., 2013, 'Apotropaic Symbols on Cast-Iron Firebacks', Jnl. of the Antique Metalware Soc., 21, pp. 14-33.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

    Citation: Page, S. & Wallace, M. (eds.), 2018, Spellbound (Oxford, Ashmolean Museum), p. 72.

  8. 331

    horsham_museum 09.jpg
    1052 x 588 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular; no edging; inscription evenly spaced along top, sans serif lettering.

    Inscription: IS D T IS

    Manufactured: in the late 19th to early 20th century in England.

    Current location: Horsham Museum, Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex, England.

    (part of the Horsham Museum museum group)

  9. 942

    hull,_wilberforce house.jpg
    910 x 680 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular with a central rectangular extension; twisted rope edging; fleur-de-lys stamp with twisted band repeated three times at top; ?rose stamp repeated five times in line below fleurs, some over pressed, central rose above others; cabled anchor stamp repeated twice, either side of central rose; initials below central rose; ?cow and dog stamps each repeated twice alternately in line below initials; eight rivets from later repair.

    Notes: None of the stamps is known from any other fireback; cabled anchor may suggest a connection with a seaport.

    Inscription: HI

    Manufactured: in the early 17th century in England.

    Current location: Wilberforce House, High Street, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England.

    (part of the Hull Museums museum group)

  10. 1250

    isleworth,_london_road,_04_688x458.jpg
    688 x 458 mm

    Description: Plain rectangular shape; no edging; separate initials in top left corners.

    Notes: The regular form of the letters suggest that they might be reused printing blocks.

    Inscription: T F

    Manufactured: in the 19th century in England.

    Current location: in private hands, Isleworth, London, England.