Firebacks

Description: Fragment; rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging; image of an iron grate with barred front and integral andiron with iron or brass disc.

Notes: A unique example; it is not certain how the mould was formed, whether by impressing an actual grate or carving a pattern with the image of a grate; the former seems more likely.

Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); date stamp, 1634, in arch; initials, EH, separated by a cross, below date.

Notes: The same date stamp has been noted on another fireback; the cross between the initials may have an apotropaic purpose.

Inscription: 1634 /E + H

Description: Arched shape with forward-facing 'wings', which splay outwards towards the base, curved to follow the shape of the main panel; central panel with stylised tree decoration surmounted with a scallop shell between six 'leaves' (one damaged).

Notes: This small, but unusual, casting was probably cast in an open box mould as the upcast (reverse) side of the casting shows evidence of being sand-treated. Only a very small number of such castings are known. Depth 200mm.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging (top and sides); on a ground between two plants, their flowers upstanding, a gadrooned flower vase with two, scrolled handles, tulips and other flowers issuing from the narrow neck; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; mirrored descending flower swags; along a rectangular bottom panel with fillet edging a symmetrical arrangement of swirled foliage; on top, two mirrored sea serpents; at the sides, a narrow vertical extension bordered with a fillet and with bead infill; at the base, a plain extension panel.

Notes: The presence of tulips suggest a Dutch origin for the pattern of this fireback, although the presence of several examples in England suggest that it was produced there rather than on the Continent. One of several very similar designs, varied by the forms of the vases, the style of the flowers and by their dimensions.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Plain rectangular shield with sloping edges; shield helm and crest of Sir Weetman Pearson Bt.: Per fess indented gules and or, between two suns in splendour in chief an escutcheon bearing a baronet's badge, and a demi-gryphon couped wings elevated and addorsed in base all counterchanged; crest: in front of a demi-gryphon as in the arms, holding between the claws a mill-stone proper, thereon a mill-rind sable, a sun in splendour.

Notes: Sir Weetman Pearson, later Viscount Cowdray, was created Baronet in 1894 and Baron in 1910, the fireback thus dates from the period 1894-1910. The motto - Do it with thy might - is from Ecclesiates 9: 10.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: DO IT WITH THY MIGHT

Arms: Sir Weetman Pearson Bt

Description: Low arched rectangle with stepped shoulders; cavetto moulded edging; Stuart royal shield with lion and unicorn supporters, garter and crown.

Notes: The pattern was probably carved in high relief, but the depth of casting sand may have been insufficient for all the detail to be revealed. At least one horizontal plank line is visible.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Rectangular shape; no edging; raised fillets along the top and bottom, and diagonally in both directions between them, upon each of which are embossed ANO DO ANO DO 1624, although the spacing differs on each fillet, the certainty of this repetition is concealed in some parts by indistinct casting, and in at least one instance a colon is inserted before the date. The inscription on the top edge is inverted. Behind the intersection of the two diagonal fillets is what might be a figure holding a linear object over its right shoulder.

Notes: Clearly intended to be commemorative although for what is not known. Its small dimensions indicate that could have been intended as a plaque rather than a fireback, although the indistinct inscription on the bottom edge could have resulted from corrosion by fire.

Inscription: ANO DO ANO DO [:] 1624 [x4]

Description: Rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides only); top left, initials IL and top right, 1697.

Notes: The style of lettering and numerals indicate that this is a casting from a larger group produced between the late-1660s and late 1690s.

Inscription: IL 1697

Description: Rectangular with arched, mirrored, scrolls on top, a cartouche scallop shell between; fillet edging; between two trees, three soldiers in Roman dress, holding either pikes, swords or shields, one on a plinth; at the bottom, a separate rectangular panel with mirrored scrolled foliage.

Notes: Possibly intended to represent the Horatii who, according to Livy, defeated the Curiatii.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with astragal and fillet edging; Phaëton riding Apollo’s chariot across the skies, the sun to the left behind clouds, a lion on ground below, between two trees; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; trailing convolvulus leaves surround the central panel; on top, earl’s coronet above an illegible character, between mirrored, swirled foliage.

Notes: The illustration upon which the design has been based has not been identified, save that it figures in book II of Ovid's Metamorphoses. The convolvulus border is a common feature of this series of firebacks and can be compared with other. The wooden pattern from which this casting was made survives in the collection of the Sussex Archaeological Society (no. 928).