Firebacks

Manufactured in England

869 results

  1. 1037

    criterion_auctions, bath, lot 168 10 sep 2016 350x420.jpg
    350 x 420 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; central rose with stem and two branches with leaves, surmounted by a crown.

    Notes: The rose is more naturalistic than heraldic. Criterion Auctions, Bath, 10 Sep 2016 lot 168.

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

    Current location:, not known.

  2. 487

    criterion_auctions, bath, lot 168 10 sep 2016 880x580.jpg
    880 x 580 mm

    Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; shield, garter, supporters and crown of the English royal house of Stuart.

    Notes: One of many designs of the Stuart royal arms on firebacks. Another, corroded version of this fireback measures 900mm x 610mm. Criterion Auctions, Bath, 10 Sep 2016 lot 168.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: HONY SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE

    Arms: English Stuart royal

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

    Current location:, not known.

  3. 857

    croft_castle 01.jpg
    790 x 670 mm

    Description: Rectangular with detached pediment linked by S-curves, protruding from each of which is a small scroll; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); quartered shield with helm, crest and mantling; initials in top corners.

    Notes: The arms are of Sir Julius Caesar (1558-1636), judge and politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1606-13. Blazon: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Gules, three roses argent, on a chief of the second three roses of the first (Caesar); 2nd, argent, two bars sable, on a chief of the second three swans of the first (?Martin); 3rd, gules, three crescents argent (Peryent/Perin). Crest: a dolphin embowed in the sea vert. This example has the additional initials, TC. The style of the carving is the same as on two other firebacks in the same county.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: T C

    Arms: Caesar

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

    Current location: Croft Castle, Yarpole, Herefordshire, England.

    Museum number: 537532 (part of the National Trust museum group)

  4. 1110

    crowborough,_luxford house 01.jpg
    >685 x 615 mm

    Description: Fragment; canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top right (i.e. probably top centre), unidentified (apparently inverted) ornamental capital letter 'T'; top left, a triple-loop fleur stamp; between, rose and crown.

    Notes: Probably slightly more than half of the original fireback, with stamps also seen on another, commonly copied, fireback. It might reasonably be supposed that the missing half may have also included an ornamental letter, companion to the surviving example. Formerly at Bentley, Halland, Sussex.

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

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

    Citation: Fitt, H. F., 1931, 'Queries: Sussex Iron, II', Sussex Notes and Queries, 3, 8, p. 255.

  5. 1111

    crowborough,_luxford house 02.jpg
    615 x 610 mm

    Description: Arched shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, over-pressed Tudor rose stamp on a square block; large diamond-shaped stamp with fleur-de-lys repeated each side below rose, both over-pressed.

    Notes: The diamond-shaped stamp has been seen on other firebacks; one of the stamps appears to have been repositioned twice before casting.

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

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

  6. 1112

    crowborough,_luxford house 03.jpg
    745 x 535 mm

    Description: Canted rectangular shape; individual moulded edging; centre, initials WB, above date.

    Notes: The text appears to have been imprinted into a mould formed from a base panel.

    Inscription: WB / 1697

    Manufactured: in 1697 possibly in the Weald area of England.

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

  7. 1113

    crowborough,_luxford house 04.jpg
    840 x 570 mm

    Description: Quasi-rectangular with a three-facetted arch; top centre, left hand print; around each shoulder, M W mirrored.

    Notes: The likelihood is that the M and W are formed of a double-V (virgo virginum) intended to symbolise the Virgin Mary and have an apotropaic (evil-averting) purpose. It may be of significance that hand prints seen on firebacks are always of the left hand.

    Inscription: MW WM

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

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

  8. 1114

    crowborough,_luxford house 05.jpg
    895 x 500 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and two-thirds down sides); rope length across each top corner.

    Notes: The twisted rope lengths are particularly well defined.

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

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

  9. 1115

    crowborough,_luxford house 06.jpg
    >935 x 470 mm

    Description: Fragment; canted rectangular; twisted rope edging (topand sides); central cross of twisted rope.

    Notes: Sections missing at both ends.

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

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

  10. 911

    crowhurst,_adams farm.jpg
    1010 x 575 mm

    Description: Plain rectangular plate; no edging; top centre, date with '7' reversed; below date, initials in triad.

    Notes: The reversed '7' indicates that the numerals, and probably the letters, had no backing; the initials are probably those of a husband and wife whose surname began with 'H'.

    Inscription: 1676 / BHM

    Manufactured: in 1676 in the Weald area of England.

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