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886
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with ‘nutshell’ edging on a broad fillet; head-dressed figure, holding a sceptre in her right hand, sitting in a chariot drawn to the left by two armadillos; the whole upon a two-arched bridge with masonry, decorated keystones and spandrels, and waves beneath; above, swagged drapery with two tassels hanging from the centre; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, with a symmetrical scrolled wire design; the monogram, SHR, bottom centre; above is a symmetrical design of scrolled floral tendrils.
Notes: The design is derived from a personification of America, one of a set of playing cards entitled 'Jeu de la Géographie', designed by Stefano della Bella (1677).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: SHR
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- architectural
- text
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.
Current location: in private hands, Pimlico, London, England.
- Attached to series:
- SHR series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
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891
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shaped; unique, cavetto-moulded edging, which loops upon itself three times. A mythical salamander shown in the flames which legend states it is able to resist; behind is what appears to be a palm tree.
Notes: Other known variants are dated; this variant confirms that the dates were added to subsequent castings. Corrosion to the bottom right corner may have obliterated a letter 'M' seen on another casting; presumably part of 'IM'.
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- animals
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Pimlico, London, England.
Citation: Schubert, H. R., 1957, 'A Forgery in Iron', Journal of the Iron & Steel Institute, 165, p. 125.
- Attached to series:
- Hooked '1' series
- Loop edged firebacks
- Brede group
- IM series
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198
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; English royal coronet with three ostrich feathers rising from within; below, a motto scroll with inscription.
Notes: The badge of the Prince of Wales; the initials, CP, are probably for Carolus Princep; the motto is mis-spelled in error for 'Ich Dien' - I serve, which is more likely a mistranscription rather than a deliberate slur. The apparent crack in the angle of the arch and the top left of the fireback is an impression, indicating that this is a recasting.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: C P/ICH LIEN
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Pimlico, London, England.
- Attached to series:
- Prince of Wales firebacks
-
910
Description: Canted rectangle; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); single horizontal fillet below canted corners and vertical fillet parallel to each side, dividing the fireback into two side panels, two top corner panels, top panel and main central panel; corner panels, ‘daisy’ plant stamp; top panel, central initials between split date, separated by 'daisy' stamps; side panels, swirling foliage stamp repeated each side, initial at bottom of panel: I to the left, B to the right.
Notes: The 'daisy' stamp and IB initials are identical to those on similar firebacks dated to between 1703 and 1721, probably indicating the same founder. Christie's Interiors - Masters & Makers (Sale 5462), South Kensington, London, 8 July 2014, lot 126 (£688).
Inscription: 17 IS 07 / I B
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1707 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- IB series
- Date & initials firebacks
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978
Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging with inaccurately parallel arched rectangular fillet inside, enclosing repeated small fleur-de-lys stamps along sides and top; initials in triad in each of the internal top corners; date in arch.
Notes: The initials probably relate to a couple whose surname begins with C, the husband's forename initial being R and the wife's I (or J).
Inscription: RCI/ 1675 / RCI
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1675 in England.
Current location: in private hands, Fulham, London, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
1248
Description: Central arched rectangular shape with rounded corners; ovolo moulding all round; oval Tudor royal shield with garter surrounding, topped with a royal crown; dragon and greyhound supporters; initials split by crown; all details below shield illegible; rectangular extension panels on each side, with twisted rope edging; quasi mirrored arrangement of twisted rope lengths to form (from the top) a cross, a vertical pointing arrow, and a diamond shape with a central vertical line.
Notes: The detail of the extension panel is sharper than the armorial, indicating that the panel was cast with a worn copy of the armorial. Illustrated in Weaver, 1914, p. 16.
Inscription: E R [+ Garter, Harvo and royal mottoes, all illegible]
Arms: Tudor royal (prob. Henry VIII)
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular with curved shoulders (shape)
- rope and ovolo moulding (edging)
- simple stamps
- whole carved pattern
- extension panels
- heraldic
- apotropaic
- armorial
- royal
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 16th to early 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Plaistow, West Sussex, England.
Citation: Weaver, L., 1914, Small Country Houses: their repair and enlargement (London, Country Life).
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- John Harvo series
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
-
587
Description: Quasi-rectangular; grooved dowel edging (top and sides); four impressions of a rondel dagger (c.330mm) saltirewise between two dowel crosses; two vertical lengths of dowel in line along right edge.
Notes: Rondel daggers were common in the 15th and 16th century. Grooved lengths of dowel are to be seen on other firebacks suggesting a common source. The arrangement of the daggers (each approx. 35cm long) in a saltire may also have apotropaic significance.
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-rectangular (shape)
- grooved dowel (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Plaxtol, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Grooved dowel series
- Knife & Dagger stamp firebacks
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1191
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides only); eight shields of Ayloffe impaling Sulyard in three rows, 3-2-3; Ayloffe: sable, a lion rampant Or, collared gules, between three crosses formy of the second; Sulyard: argent, a chevron gules between three pheons inverted sable.
Notes: William Ayloffe (c1535-1584) of Hornchurch, Essex, Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, married (c1560) Jane, dau. of Sir Eustace Sulyard, of Runwell, Essex. Illustrated in Lloyd (1925).
Arms: Ayloffe impaling Sulyard (William Ayloffe of Bretons, Hornchurch)
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- armorial
Manufactured: in the early 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- Ayloffe series
- Personal armorial firebacks
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589
Description: Double arched rectangular shaped; ovolo edging; central clock dial with Roman numerals separated by stops, sunburst inside, single hand with fleur de lys pointer; teardrop weights suspended from each side; symmetrical tendrils above.
Notes: One of the ‘hooked 1’ series of firebacks - the number ‘1’ is just discernable bottom left; two versions exist of this fireback, the other having finials above the suspended weights.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I · II · III · IIII · V · VI · VII · VIII · IX · X · XI · XII / 16...
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular with stepped arch (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Ham House, Richmond, Surrey, England.
Museum number: 1139737 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Hooked '1' series
- Brede group
-
590
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape, semi-circular protrusions on top corners; cavetto-moulded edging; two mirrored scrolls inside arch; a phoenix in flames, its wings displayed and inverted.
Notes: A variant bears the date, 1650, and the initials, IM; a loop normally at the top is absent.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular with two arched extensions (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- mythological
- animals
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Ham House, Richmond, Surrey, England.
Museum number: 1139821 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- IM series
- Hooked '1' series
- Brede group
- Phoenix firebacks