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1018
Description: Arched rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging, invected on the inner edge; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, supporters and motto; monogram to right of unicorn supporter.
Notes: The monogram probably identifies the pattern-maker, whose invected edging seems to be a distinctive style.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE / RN / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- monogram
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century in England.
Current location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, England.
Museum number: AAA3476 (part of the National Maritime Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- RN series
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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73
Description: Plain rectangular plate; print of a left hand, lower centre.
Notes: The excrescence above and to the left of the hand print shows where the pouring iron displaced the casting sand.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- humans
Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Groombridge, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Hand print firebacks
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74
Description: Rectangle with flattened ogee arch; ovolo, simulated rope edging; shield, garter, helm, mantling, crown and supporters (crowned lion and unicorn) of the English royal house of Stuart; motto across base
Notes: A variation of a type, dated 1618, noted at Burwash, Sussex.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: DIEU ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangle with ogee arch (shape)
- simulated rope (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in the early 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Groombridge, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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75
Description: Rectangular; ovolo moulded edging (top and sides); 14 impressions of a fleur de lys, arranged in three horizontal rows (5-4-5), carefully spaced.
Notes: The same fleur de lys stamp has been noted on several firebacks, indicating a common source.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Groombridge, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
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1226
Description: Rectangular; rope edging (top & sides); in centre, Tudor shield, garter, crown and supporters (greyhound and lion) between two fleurs-de-lys; date top left.
Notes: A badly corroded fireback. The armorial achievement is seen on other firebacks and was formed from four separate stamps; the supporters are consistent with the date; the style of the numerals is uncharacteristic of the period. The sharpness of the detail on the crown and upper part of the Garter indicates that the fireback is contemporary with the date, and not older as similar examples seem to be. The same date in identical form is on a similar fireback at Penshurst Place, Kent.
Inscription: 1579 / [Garter motto incomplete]
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- date stamp
- heraldic
- armorial
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in 1579 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Groombridge Place, Speldhurst, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Tudor redated series
- Pounsley series
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
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306
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides) with a fillet inside; top centre, concentric roundel with rose-and-crown below; top left, initials in triad with small rose below 'W' and small fleur-de-lys below 'M'; upper right, date with small fleur below '6' and small rose lower, below second '7'.
Notes: The style of rose and crown is similar to that used in gun founding in the Tudor period, suggesting that the furnace that was the source of this fireback may have been used for that purpose.
Inscription: WLM [triad] 1677
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1677 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Groombridge, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
- Date & initials firebacks
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76
Description: Rectangular with ‘portico’ arch; cavetto edging; two-handled vase, flower stems on each side entwined round handles; flowers emerging from top of vase; base of vase overlaps the edging.
Notes: One of a varied group of small firebacks with bold, simple designs and cavetto edging; formerly in the possession of Gertrude Jekyll, Munstead Wood, near Godalming, Surrey.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with triangular arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.
Museum number: S.7129 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)
Citation: Jekyll, G., 1903, Old West Surrey, London, Longmans.
- Attached to series:
- Small cavetto series
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77
Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead edging, two children sitting astride a beast (possibly a winged ram); arched rectangular shaped border, fillet edging, swags of fruit bunches suspended from ribbon; on top, symmetrical floral swirls and flowers.
Notes: The image is probably intended to be Phrixus and Helle riding the winged ram with the golden fleece, but in recasting it has been misinterpreted as the young Samson slaying the lion at Timnath; Judges 14: 5-6.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 NDW 97 / DER JUNGE SAMSON [the young Samson]
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- biblical
- monogram
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.
Museum number: G.486 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' NDW series
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78
Description: Sub-rectangular; twisted rope edging; lengths of twisted rope arranged to form two 'V' shapes and an 'I' overlapping to forma possible monogram.
Notes: The 'monogram' comprises different length pieces of rope and may have an apotropaic significance, the double 'V' referring to the Virgin Mary.
- Decoration tags:
- sub-rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.
Museum number: G.488 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
-
81
Description: Rectangular with two mirrored scrolls on top, a lion’s face between; bas-relief semi-circle edging (sides and bottom); central pilaster with vine scrolling, Corinthian capital, initials on the pedestal; on either side, an arched alcove, each with a halberdier in mid-17th century clothes, their feet pointing to the middle.
Notes: Stylistically similar to the Lenard fireback (no. 429), the initials also appear on other firebacks, possibly from Brede. All known examples of this fireback are poorly modelled and cast.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IM
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- architectural
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.
Museum number: S.7108 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- IM series
- Brede group