Firebacks

Description: Rectangular; reversed cavetto-moulded edge on top and sides; pictorial scene depicting Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac; Abraham is on the left, holding the top of Isaac’s head with his left hand, his right hand holding a sword; in the middle stands a pyre; above and to the right an angel emerges from the clouds, while below a ram stands beside a bush; the inscription is above and to the left.

Notes: The scene is drawn from Genesis 22: 11; And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham”: and he said, “Here am I”. The subject and the naïve figuration is similar to a fireback incorporating two other Old Testament scenes (no. 94), and may be the work of the same pattern maker.

Inscription: ABRAHAM ABRAHAM [Genesis 22: 11]

Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto edging; three ostrich feathers issuing from a royal coronet; a blank motto banner below; the initials bottom left, above banner.

Notes: The badge of the Prince of Wales; perhaps cast during the Commonwealth period. A copy personalised with added initials.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: IL

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with hollow bead edging on a broad fillet; figure of a woman standing on a mound, holding a bow in her right hand and an arrow in her left, a plant to her right, and drapery swags above; arched rectangular border with symmetrical swirls of foliage and diagonal leaves at corners; monogram centre bottom between swirled tendrils; on top, symmetrical, swirled foliage.

Notes: The figure is of Diana, goddess of the Moon and of hunting; she carries a bow and arrow, and has a hound at her feet. The depiction is derived from 'Statues of Roman Gods', a set of engravings dated 1585, by Philips Galle after Jacques Jonghelinck. Copies of this fireback were advertised in Burton Weir's (Rotherham) catalogue in the early-20th century.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: SHR

Description: Plain rectangular plate with detached pediment; central shield with motto scroll below.

Notes: The severe classical form suggests that this back may have been intended for attaching to a grate. Blazon: Tynte - Gules, a lion couchant between six cross-crosslets Argent; Kemeys - Vert, on a chevron Argent three pheons Sable.

Inscription: DYW DY RAS

Arms: Tynte quartering Kemeys

Description: Arched rectangular central panel and bead edging; pictorial scene probably showing the annunciation of the Virgin Mary; Mary sits beneath a canopy on the left, to which an angel descends, behind two figures seated on a stepped dais; above, two figures sit above a cloud, a curtain to the right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging, containing twisted ribbon; palm fronds gathered with a ribbon along the bottom. On top, two vases, one on each shoulder of the border, with swirled foliage descending from a central scallop shell.

Notes: The scene appears to be from the New Testament, probably relating to the Annunciation or the Nativity.

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging; pictorial scene of a seated female figure resting against a hurdle, holding an anchor, a child on each side of her, the one on the left standing clutching corn stalks, the one on the right sitting also holding the anchor and a circular object; a bird sits on a post; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; at the top of the arch a cartouche from which are suspended two ribbons, each held by a putto, from which cascade flowers and fruit, each lower part hung from a ring; two putti are on each side, one climbing on the suspended ribbon, the other at its foot; at the bottom, an empty cartouche between two clusters of flowers each suspended on a ribbon tied to a scroll; on top, two descending cornucopiae.

Notes: The figure represents Hope. The theft in 1699 from a Thames-side warehouse of several firebacks, including '3 of Hope with an Anchor' may refer to this type (Post Boy 11-14 Nov. 1699).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; centre, fluted flower vase containing a variety of flowers, with a plant growing on each side, all within an arched rectangular bead-and-pellet border with looped top corners; on each side, a festoon of bell flowers, with a putto blowing a trumpet above; over each of their heads a single rose; top centre, a sunburst; bottom, an animal’s face between mirrored swirled foliage.

Notes: One of a small group of firebacks with similar outlines.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel; bead-and-pellet edging; scene showing a semi-naked figure holding a trident in his right hand and a sheaf of corn in his raised left hand; standing on ground, with swagged drapery and tassels above, and an anchor behind right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; on top, scallop shell symmetrical descending arrangement of swirled fronds and shells, which continue on the bottom; monogram at bottom centre; on top, mirrored stylised sea monsters.

Notes: The figure is Neptune, one of a set of 'Eight Deities' engraved by Hendrick Goltzius (1592), after Polidoro da Caravaggio; the fireback is one of a large group bearing the same initials, which probably denotes the pattern maker. Other groups may have been the work of the same carver or workshop. The execution is rather crude.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: SHR

Description: Arched rectangular main panel; fillet edging; nude female figure standing on shield and holding a wind-blown sheet, upon a ground; suspended floral garlands with swirled foliage above; on top, a scallop shell between two symmetrical sea serpents

Notes: The figure is of Fortune. The theft in 1699 from a Thames-side warehouse of several firebacks, including '5 iron Chimney-Backs cast in the figure of Fortune standing naked on a Conchus in the Sea' may refer to this type (Post Boy 11-14 Nov. 1699).

Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto moulding all round; spreading oak tree, with leaves and acorns, filling the whole plate; three royal crowns, one at the top of the tree, the other two symmetrically on the ends of branches towards the top corners; initials CR towards the bottom corners, the remaining inscription on a scroll across the base.

Notes: The design is derived from the celebrated occasion when Charles II evaded his pursuers by hiding in an oak tree at Boscobel House, near Wolverhampton, following the final Royalist defeat at the battle of Worcester in 1651. This popular fireback has been copied frequently. Inferior copies of this fireback were advertised in Kings Worthy Foundry's (Winchester) catalogue in the mid-20th century.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: C THE ROYALL OAK R