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103
Description: Rectangular; flanged or astragal and fillett edging; female portrait in a medallion of three concentric rings; date split between four corners
Notes: An unusually small stoveplate.
Inscription: 1 6 [?0] 4
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- astragal & fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- pictorial
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in 1604 possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
(part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Stoveplates
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104
Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel with arch at top; bead edging; female figure with staff and fan in a garden, inscription DER MITAG below figure ; similarly shaped border of Corinthian columns and floral decoration; symmetrical serpents on top.
Notes: The inscription means NOON; identified from a clearer version in the collection of the Haardplatenmuseum, Klarenbeek, Netherlands. The representations in human form of various virtues and vices in Iconologia, by Cesare Ripa, first published in the early 17th century but republished in different editions many times subsequently, formed the basis of the subject matter of several firebacks, mostly cast from continental originals, that became popular in England from the late 17th century.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: DER MITAG
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
(part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
-
107
Description: Rectangle with two similar rectangular extensions at top extremities; rope edging (top and sides); on top extensions, two stamps of a dragon and lion supporting a rose and crown, each with a crowned shield bearing a fleur de lys below; central date with rose and crown below; initials TM vertically placed inside middle left edge, initial I middle right; initials I and A, respectively, at lower left and right.
Notes: The initials, TM and I, may relate to a married couple, the first two letters to their first names and the last to their surname; the initials IA are likely to be of the founder as they appear in the same arrangement on other firebacks. The unusual shape would probably have been determined by the structure of the hearth for which it was made; the rose and crown and supporters stamp can also be seen on a large fireback, dated 1593, formerly at Baynard's Park, Surrey; the date and IA stamps can be seen, in identical form, on a fireback in the Victoria & Albert Museum, and on two other firebacks, suggesting a common source for all of these firebacks.
Inscription: TM 1582 I / I A
- Decoration tags:
- rectangle with rectangular extensions (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1582 possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
Museum number: 8582 (part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
Citation: Anon., 1929, 'An interesting fireback', Sussex Notes and Queries, 2, 8 , p. 242.
- Attached to series:
- 1582 IA series
- Pounsley series
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108
Description: Quasi-rectangular with narrow arches at top ends and a broad low central arch, between which are flat-topped peaks linked to the arches by shallow concave curves; flanged edge (top and sides); mirroring the edge a channel has been engraved into the metal, extending into the small arches, producing the effect of a wide fillet along the top and sides with an inverted U-shaped return into the end arches; within the channel, at each end, a primitive representation of a vertical, hollow plant stem and four mirrored pairs of curved branches, with a vertical channel parallel to the edge joining the branch ends on the inside; between these is cast a small, rectangular panel with ovolo edging, bearing a full achievement of the arms of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers; the date is centrally placed above this panel.
Notes: An usual fireback for several reasons: the use of engraving for significant elements of the design, the flanged edge, and the incorporation of a small fireback. The Clothworkers’ arms: Sable a chevron ermine between in chief two Havettes Argent and in base a Teazel Cob Or; crest: on a Mount vert a Ram statant Or; supporters: two Griffins Or pellettée; the arms as displayed were granted in 1587. An example of the armorial fireback on its own is in Petworth House (no. 522).
Inscription: WV 1659 WV
Arms: Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
- Decoration tags:
- sub-rectangular (shape)
- flanged (edging)
- composite
- individual numbers
- planklines
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1659 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
Museum number: 8587 (part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Composite firebacks
- Livery company firebacks
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110
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with fillet and bead edging, Neptune/Poseidon, holding a trident in his right hand, sitting in a scallop shell drawn by four mythical sea horses, behind are two mermaids; arched rectangular shaped border with ovolo egg and dart edging; above, two symmetrical dolphins with a clam shell between.
Notes: Typical type of firebacks produced in Germany for the Dutch market; the central panel was made separately for insertion into different borders; this border is a relatively simple type. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- ovolo, egg and dart (edging)
- carved pattern panels
- mythological
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HASMG: 1952.51.36 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
- 'Dutch' Dolphin series
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111
Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging, semi-naked figure holding a caduceus in his left hand, standing on a mound with a tree to the right and clouds above; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and an ivy and acanthus leaf pattern; on top an arrangement of swirled foliage.
Notes: The figure is Hermes/Mercury, one of a set of 'Eight Deities' engraved by Hendrick Goltzius (1592), after Polidoro da Caravaggio. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- mythological
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.
Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HASMG: 1952.51.34 (LA 782) (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
- Eight Deities series
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112
Description: Rectangular with twisted rope edging; straight lengths of rope re-stamped to make longer lengths in the shape of a saltire on each side and a 'V' in the middle.
Notes: The arrangement of the rope lengths may have an apotropaic significance, a double 'v' alluding to the Virgin Mary. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 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: 1952.51.20 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
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114
Description: Quasi-rectangular shape with low-curved convex top; edging (top and sides)formed of lengths of dowel grooved laterally and helically; upper centre, cross formed of the same dowel; at each side, tandem arrangement of longer dowel, similarly grooved.
Notes: The base board appears to be the same size and shape as that of a fireback at Plaxtol, Kent (no. 587), which also has the same edging; and the grooved dowels are also on a fireback with dagger stamps at Lewes; the cross will have been intended to have apotropaic significance. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-rectangular (shape)
- grooved dowel (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 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: 1952.51.21 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Grooved dowel series
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115
Description: Plain rectangular plate with cross formed of a single length of twisted rope placed twice.
Notes: Despite the simple form, the likely Christian symbolism is very evident. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the 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: 1952.51.17 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
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116
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top left, date carved on block; top right, individual letter 'I' followed by 'WA' carved on block.
Notes: The same date stamp appears on a group of multi-facetted, arched firebacks bearing the crowned Tudor arms within a Garter. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
Inscription: 1589 I WA
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- date stamp
- text
Manufactured: in 1589 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: 1952.51.42 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- 1589 series