Firebacks

Description: Rectangular with triangular pediment; stepped fillet and ogee moulded edge; initials in rectangular panel (F reversed); date in portico.

Notes: The triangular top is a separate element, in this instance impressed before the lower panel. A variant at the Victoria and Albert Museum (no. 771) has the letters positioned slightly differently. A version of this fireback, with a rope-edged panel in the lower part, and medallion stamps, can also be seen at Hastings. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Inscription: 1586 F M

Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging, figure of Charity holding a baby in her left arm and an olive branch in her right, two other children stand on each side of her, one holding a burning heart, trees in the background; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and a repeated leaf pattern; on top a clam shell between two symmetrical serpents.

Notes: Typical type of fireback produced in Germany by Dutch pattern makers; the central panel was made separately for insertion into different borders; this border is a relatively simple type; the portrayal of Charity is derived from the 'Iconologia' of Cesare Ripa. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead-and-pellet edging; figure of Abraham, a scimitar in his raised right hand, which is being restrained by an angel emerging from a cloud; Isaac is kneeling to Abraham's left and a ram is caught in a bush to the left of the plate; the initials are in the top corners; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, and swags of leaves suspended from flowers; on top, symmetrical foliate swirls.

Notes: The design is an adaptation of an engraving by Adriaen Collaert (1555-1623) of a painting by Maarten de Vos (1532-1603), Plate 5 of The Story of Abraham. In the 'Thesaurus sacrarum historiarum veteris testamenti', published in Antwerp by Gerard de Jode (1509-1591) in 1579, 1585 and, subsequently, by Visscher in 1589. One of a small group of firebacks, all of similar shape, some with biblical designs, others mythological, all dated around 1700 and bearing the letters GK. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: G K / 1700

Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo moulded edging; central oval shield of the arms of Penkhurst with fillet edge; date arranged in four corners.

Notes: The arms of Penkhurst: Argent, a fess ermines between six mullets sable. Probably the arms of Ferdinando Penkhurst, of Buxted Park, Sussex, who died in 1708. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Inscription: 1707

Arms: Penkhurst, of Mayfield

Description: Rectangular central panel with bead edging; a phoenix, with wings displayed, rising from the flames; rectangular border with bead edging, flowers and leaves festooned from a central flower; initials split either side of a flower at the base; on top, symmetrical swirled leaves.

Notes: Although similar to 'Dutch' types made in north Germany, this is probably an English design. A fireback bearing a phoenix was one of three designs ordered by Trubshaw's, ironmongers of London and Birmingham, from George Sitwell's furnace at Foxbrooke, Derbyshire, in the 1660s. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: R (or B) G

Description: Arched rectangular shaped panel with fillet edging; two Salomonic columns supporting a beaded arch; standing figure of Atlas supporting a globe, on ground with plants, and two swags of fruit and leaves suspended from the centre of the arch to the capitals of the columns; above the beaded arch, symmetrical swirls of fruit and foliage; on top, a scallop shell between two sea serpents.

Notes: Probably an English design copying the north German 'Dutch' style.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched; fillet edging; Tudor royal shield, garter, crown and supporters (dragon and greyhound); top left, crowned Tudor rose; top right, crowned portcullis (grid of 6).

Notes: There are several firebacks with the Tudor royal arms that were probably produced in the Spanish Netherlands, perhaps illustrating the association between England and Spain through the marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. The firebacks differ in several small details, such as the form and rotation of the Garter motto, the style of the crown, the positioning of the supporters in relation to the Garter, and the form and size of the crowned rose and portcullis.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: HONI SOIT QVI MAL I PENSE

Arms: Tudor royal

Description: Rectangular central panel with top arch, bead edging; pictorial scene of a a kneeling man in a wide-brimmed hat reaching up the skirt of a milk maid, who in fending him off, leans forward, tipping the milk from the bucket on her head over the man; acanthus leaves over the top arch; side border with bead edging extending over shoulders of plate, surmounted by a floral vase each side; on top a floral vase between leaves.

Notes: Inscription on the back of the casting: 'Made from a casting lent to J. H. E[very] by Mr J. T. Ade of Hellingly'.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); stamp formed of a bordered strip with an undulating vine with grapes and leaves, repeated six times in three horizontal rows of two; below, a short piece of the same strip positioned vertically and repeated twelve times.

Notes: The vine strip features on many firebacks indicating a common source. Illustration from Lloyd, 1925.

Description: Quasi-rectangular; edging formed of repeated bordered strip with undulating vine with fruit and leaves; horizontal line of two uneavenly repeated vine strips dividing the plate into two compartments, the upper comprising a grape bunch repeated eighteen times, the lower comprising a bird (probably a swan, a Lancastrian badge), its head turned to its left and one visible wing displayed and inverted, repeated five times with a grape bunch repeated twelve times at the ends and between each swan on the top and bottom of the compartment.

Notes: The vine strip, swan and grape bunch stamps feature on many firebacks indicating a common source. Illustration from Lloyd, 1925.