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974
Description: Arched rectangular shape on a plain plinth; scalloped cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); initials in triad within arch; date split in top corners; unidentified stamp top centre; hound stamp above letter 'R', stag stamp above letter 'A'; annulet stamp repeated inside each half of the date; flat scrolled protuberance on each side of arch; smaller protuberance above each shoulder.
Notes: The initials are likely to be those of a husband and wife, the stag and hound possibly associated with the husband's occupation. The protuberances are seen in different forms on few firebacks of the same period.
Inscription: RHA / 16 66
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- scalloped cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1666 in England.
Current location: Bishop's House, Norton Lees Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
(part of the Museums Sheffield museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
- Loop edged firebacks
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1173
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on broad fillet edging; pictorial scene of Neptune/Poseidon, a trident in hand, in a chariot drawn through the waves by two 'sea horses', above are clouds and three birds; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; diagonal grid forming squares, in each one of two types of flower arranged in alternate lines; at the bottom, the letter W in a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, mirrored swirled foliage issuing upwards from a mythical creature on each shoulder.
Notes: There is some question as to whether this is a later pastiche of an early-eighteenth century style,
Inscription: W
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- text
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: Macintosh Antiques, The Courtyard, Newland, Sherborne, Dorset, England.
- Attached to series:
- W series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
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837
Description: Canted rectangle; cavetto-moulded edging; single horizontal ?rope strip below canted corners and vertical ?rope strip parallel to each side, dividing the fireback into two side panels, two top corner panels, top panel and main central panel; top corner panels, a plant stamp repeated in each; top panel, date between repeated plant stamp; side panels, fleur-de-lys stamp repeated twice on each side in a vertical arrangement, a single plant stamp below, above one initial on each side; central panel plain.
Notes: The 'daisy' stamp, fleurs de lys and the IB initials are identical to those on similar firebacks dated between 1703 and 1721, and probably indicating the same founder. Illustration from Shuffrey 1912, p.139.
Inscription: 1710 / I B
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1710 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Shuffrey, L. A., 1912, The English Fireplace, London, Batsford.
- Attached to series:
- IB series
-
998
? x ? mmDescription: 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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Shuffrey, L. A., 1912, The English Fireplace, London, Batsford.
- Attached to series:
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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1285
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1650 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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919
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1594 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Weald and Downland Living Museum, Singleton, West Sussex, England.
(part of the Weald and Downland Living Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Loop stamp (early) series
- Furniture stamp firebacks
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689
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
- Decoration tags:
- triangular arched (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- heraldic
- royal
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Slaugham, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Royal series
- Royal (wreath) series
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1094
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- armorial
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid-16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Smallhythe Place, Small Hythe Road, Tenterden, Kent, England.
Museum number: 1117950 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Royal series
-
690
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1660 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Smallhythe Place, Small Hythe Road, Tenterden, Kent, England.
Museum number: 1117951 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
892
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- apotropaic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1610 in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks