Firebacks

All of them

1090 results

  1. 482

    maresfield,_putmans farm 02.jpg
    673 x 584 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; rope edging (top and sides); Tudor royal shield, garter, crown and supporters (crowned lion and dragon); date split by crown; lower right, initial formed of twisted rope with fleur-de-lys terminals; small fleur-de-lys stamp repeated 14 times across top edge and arch; fleur-de-lys cross repeated six times across lower part of plate.

    Notes: Identical arms can be seen on at least two other firebacks; minor variations in the position of individual elements indicate that the garter and shield, crown, and each supporter were separately stamped. The lack of definition in the decoration suggests that this is a copy made from an earlier casting.

    Inscription: 1595 / I H

    Arms: Tudor royal - Elizabeth I

    Manufactured: in 1595 possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.

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

  2. 483

    maresfield,_putmans farm 03.jpg
    900 x 800 mm

    Description: Plain plate with scrolled side edges; canted arched rectangular astragal and fillet top moulding; central shield, crest and motto of the hardy family.

    Inscription: ARMEE DE FOI HARDI

    Arms: Hardy

    Manufactured: in the late 19th century at Low Moor Furnace in the Yorkshire area of England.

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

  3. 1170

    marlborough_ma,_skinners_482x724.jpg
    482 x 724 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on broad fillet edging; two-handled vase standing on a ground, with flowers and oak fronds issuing therefrom in a symmetrical display; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; symmetrical undulating vine with flowers and leaves descending from a trio of flowers; at the bottom, the letter W in a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, mirrored swirled foliage issuing upwards from a mythical creature on each shoulder.

    Notes: The floral theme and its execution shows parallels with the SHR, N and 1724 series of firebacks and could be from the same workshop. The 'W' initial probably denotes the pattern maker.

    Inscription: W

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: not known.

  4. 970

    maryland.jpg
    711 x 508 mm

    Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging; date along the top; initials in triad across the middle, inside canted rectangular rope border; fleur-de-lys stamp repeated five times down each side.

    Notes: The initials probably represent those of a married couple, the 'V' for their surname; it is relatively unusual for twisted rope edging to continue along the bottom of the plate. The back was found in Massachusetts and may have been brought there by an early colonist.

    Inscription: 1626 / MVS

    Manufactured: in 1626 in the Forest of Dean area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Herndon, Virginia, United States of America.

  5. 1074

    mathern,_knovil house a.jpg
    550 x ~600 mm

    Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.

    Notes: A tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.

    Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]

    Manufactured: in 1648 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.

    Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.

  6. 1072

    mathern,_moynes court 03.jpg
    >920 x 750 mm

    Description: Rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date top centre; initials split below date.

    Notes: The initials are believed to relate to Thomas Hughes (1604-64), MP and Governor of Chepstow Castle, who lived at Moynes Court, Mathern; a slightly larger variant of the same date but without initials has been noted; the right edge is concealed behind stonework.

    Inscription: 1658 / T H

    Manufactured: in 1658 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.

    Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.

  7. 1073

    mathern,_moynes court 04.jpg
    465 x 870 mm

    Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.

    Notes: An unusually tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.

    Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]

    Manufactured: in 1648 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.

    Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.

  8. 484

    mayfield,_duddesland farm.jpg
    >583 x 583 mm

    Description: Fragment (right side only); rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); concentrically grooved disc repeated four times in a square arrangement, with a rope cross between (probably mirrored on the missing half).

    Notes: It has not been established from what the circular disc stamp has been derived.

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

    Current location: in private hands, Hadlow Down, East Sussex, England.

  9. 485

    mayfield,_hunts barn.jpg
    896 x 535 mm

    Description: Rectangular; ovolo moulded edging (top and sides), except for middle section on top, where twisted rope is used; quasi-symmetrical arrangement of twisted rope lengths in two rows of alternate diagonals, crossing in the middle on the top row, and crossing on the outside on the bottom.

    Notes: The section of rope edging on the top suggests that an arch had been removed from the base pattern board. The arrangement of rope lengths may have apotropaic significance, the double 'v' alluding to the Virgin Mary.

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

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

    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., 2012, 'Pre-Restoration Iron Firebacks', Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, 20, pp. 2-15.

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

  10. 672

    mayfield,_middle house.jpg
    613 x 455 mm

    Description: Rectangular with pediment; ovolo moulded edging inside top of pediment and inside top and sides of rectangle; central talbot crest within wreath and eight-pointed star, between four fleurs-de-lys.

    Notes: The wreath and talbot crest are identical to those on a 1584 fireback in the Victoria & Albert Museum; one of the ‘Royal’ series.

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

    Current location: Middle House Hotel, High Street, Mayfield, East Sussex, England.