Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging with a wider fillet within upon which are regularly-spaced beads each set on disc and joined by a thin line; shield, Garter, helm, mantling, crown and lion crest, with crowned lion and unicorn supporters; metal strapping around main rectangle.

Notes: A damaged example with unusual supporting bands. Formerly at Brede Place, East Sussex.

Inscription: HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded, gadrooned edging (top and sides); lower centre, a vertical spindle between two vertical spindles of a different form each surmounted by a fleur-de-lys; the date split by the top of the middle spindle; the initials above the first two and last two figures of the date.

Notes: The gadrooned style of edging is a distinctive feature of this group of firebacks, the style of fleur-de-lys being observed on two other backs within the group.

Inscription: I B / 1 6 5 0

Description: Arched rectangular shape; rope edging (top and sides); undulating floriate design across top of rectangle, below which are alternating roses (4) and ?crowned cross stamps (5); the same cross and rose stamps decorate the arch, three crosses on each side of a rose at the top; at the base of the arch is a row of four stamps formed of a double figure-of-eight joined by opposed concave curves; the same stamps (3), rotated 90 degrees, are arranged in a row down the left side of the plate.

Notes: Similar undulating floriate designs have been seen on late-medieval and sixteenth century stools, suggesting a possible source. A fireback with the same loop stamps bears the same date using the same numerals but impressed in reverse. Unusually, the decoration down the left side is not repeated down the right side.

Inscription: 1594

Description: Rectangular with pediment; ovolo moulded edging inside top of pediment and inside top and sides of rectangle; centre top, four-petal rose and crown with three fleurs-de-lys below; at either end, stamps made from two parts of a wreath (the middle section missing); in the pediment a cross.

Notes: The wreaths from which the stamps have been disassembled can be seen complete on two other firebacks, and the rose and crown is a common stamp on a large series of early firebacks.

Inscription: I T

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, crowned Tudor royal shield between a lion passant on the right and a lion passant guardant sinister on the left; in each top corner a crowned four-petal rose, below which, to the right, a left-facing 'imp' with both arms lowered; below the armorial, a crowned shield bearing initials, KH, in Lombardic lettering, above a fleur-de-lys; a much-corroded imp figure may be below the right-hand lion.

Notes: A heavily corroded variant of a type bearing Henrician heraldic elements.

Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

Description: Canted rectangle; plain edges; broad horizontal fillet dividing the plate in two just above the side angles, with vertical fillets to top corners enclosing date and initials.

Notes: Uncharacteristically crude for the period.

Inscription: IS / 16 60

Description: Canted rectangular shape; plain edging with inset ?leather strap twisted round dowel (top and sides); top centre, date probably in stamped numerals; twisted leather strap saltire repeated three times across middle of plate; pair of stamped initials, formed of a Roman 'W' and a Gothic 'd', above each outer saltire.

Notes: Sotheby's sale London 27 November 2006, lot 324; formerly at Brunger, Kent (near Tenterden).

Inscription: 1610 / WD WD

Description: Fragment, left side missing; arched rectangular shape; fillet edging (top and sides visible); initials IG widely spaced in arch.

Notes: Previously at Bream Court Farm, Newland, Gloucestershire.

Inscription: I G

Description: Arched rectangle; arch with egg and dart, ovolo edging, resting on rectangle shoulders and sides with triple fillet edging, a single fillet edged panel beneath; bottom panel, guilloche pattern of 12; main panel: shield, helm, crest, coronet and mantling of the Wynter/Wintour family of Lydney, Gloucestershire; the initials above the date, both split by the helm and coronet; on either side of the shield, Ionic pilasters; above the rectangle shoulders, a scrolled bracket each side, supporting the arch.

Notes: Wynter: Sable, a fess ermine, in chief a crescent for difference; crest: out of a ducal coronet, or, a cubit arm in armour erect, proper, garnished of the first, in the gauntlet three ostrich-feathers. The arms are likely to be those of Sir John Wynter, who owned several furnaces in the Forest of Dean. Formerly at Watts House, Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset, and before that at The Priory, Taunton.

Inscription: I W / 16 30

Arms: Winter/Wintour of Lydney, Gloucestershire

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date between split initials across upper half of plate; two notches cut away for insertion of firedogs.

Notes: The ‘6s’ appear to have been moulded from a type of jemmy.

Inscription: g 1669 P [reversed]