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299
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gdrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date probably in separate stamps, below, split by spindle; spindle used as a stamp repeated three times, one between date and initial stamps, the other two below to left and right.
Notes: The same base board and spindle have been used for other firebacks of the same period.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I W / 16 22
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1622 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Gwydir Castle, Trefriw, Conwy, Wales.
Citation: Gardner, J. S., 1898, 'Iron Casting in the Weald', Archaeologia, 56, 1, pp. 133-164.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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1165
Description: Canted rectangular shape; braided rope edging (top and sides); top centre, initials 'TSE' in triad, above centred date.
Notes: The use of braided rope edging is unusual. The fireback was formerly in a house in Westmoreland associated with the Salkeld family.
Inscription: TSE [triad] / 1612
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- braided rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1612 in England.
Current location: Gwydir Castle, Trefriw, Conwy, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
711
Description: Rectangular plate with plain ovolo-moulded edging, superimposed by a fireback with, on top, arched mirrored scrolls surrounding a scallop shell, and below, a conversational scene of a man and woman seated at a small table with a soldier standing to the right and a building and servant behind to the right.
Notes: A composite fireback presumably intended to extend the width of an existing small one; rivets repair a crack.
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved pattern panels
- composite
- pictorial
- humans
Manufactured: in the early to mid 18th century in England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Late pictorial series (all)
- Composite firebacks
- Late pictorial series 4
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977
Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo moulded edging; Tudor royal shield, garter, crown, motto and supporters (crowned lion and dragon), temp. Elizabeth I; initials in space on either side of top of garter; the top of the lion's crown and the dragon's ear overlap the edging.
Notes: The initials have been added to an early recasting; another version has a rose and portcullis either side of the crown, and the top of the lion's crown and the dragon's ear do not overlap the edging.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I G / [Garter] HONI SOIT QVI MAL E PENSE / [motto] DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual letters
- planklines
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hign Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
- Tudor royal armorial (plain) series
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1164
Description: Rectangular with 5-facetted arch; twisted rope edging; centre top, rectangular stamp, over-pressed, with crown above initials in bottom corners; diamond shaped stamp with fleur-de-lys repeated each side of crown, both over-pressed.
Notes: Notable for the large size of the fleur-de-lys stamp; this casting differs from another (no. 486) in the placement of the stamps.
Inscription: E R
- Decoration tags:
- multi-facetted arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Large diamond fleur series
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1189
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; central, two handled, gadrooned vase with swirled, fruited vines issuing from the neck, and a bird on each side perched within the vines; out of the neck, a naïve human figure with arms outstretched, grasping vines on each side.
Notes: The figure emerging from the vase has a symbolism which has yet to be explained; more than one version of this fireback exists. A copy.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- animals
- humans
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location:, English.
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
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1202
? x ? mmDescription: Rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); upper centre, two evenly-spaced, medium-sized twisted rope crosses.
Notes: Formerly (1950) at Maidstone, Kent. Illustration from Schubert, 1950.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 16th to early 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Schubert, H. R., Aug 1950, ‘Old English Iron Firebacks’, Steel News, 2, 2, p. 8.
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
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1033
Description: Arched rectangular shaped; fillet edging with embattled relief inside; shield, helm, crest and mantling of the Blacksmiths' Company. RN monogram in top right corner.
Notes: Arms of the Blacksmiths' company: Sable, a chevron Or between three hammers Argent and crowned with open crowns of the second; crest: a phoenix in flames rising proper. The arms were granted in 1611. Several different versions of these arms are to be found on firebacks. The attribution of this fireback to the series usually identified by the monogram RN is tentative, it being a copy and a substantial amount of surface detail imperfectly rendered.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- embattled fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands Chard, Somerset, England.
- Attached to series:
- Livery company firebacks
- RN series
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1254
Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top, and sides short of bottom), with shoulder edging extending into base of arch; upper centre, date '1602' slanting down to right; below date, initials 'IPD' in triad.
Notes: The initials are likely to be those of a couple whose surname begins with 'P'.
Inscription: 1602 / I P D [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1602 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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1263
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with hollow bead edging; a putto, its head inclined to its left, standing on a platform, holding a wand in its right hand and a branch in its left hand, a flower in a pot is on each side, and above, swagged drapery; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging; swirled flowers and tendrils symmetrically arranged, with SHR monogram at centre bottom; two mirrored stylised sea serpents on top; to each side a vertical extension with bead edging, of the same decoration as the side borders.
Notes: The figure depicted is probably emblematic although the meaning has yet to be determined. The frame of the central panel and the enclosing border are identical to those noted on another fireback displaying a figure of Pluto (see fireback no. 164). This may be an example of an image from one casting being superimposed within the frame of an earlier fireback. The border is identical to that seen on fireback no. 1220.
Inscription: SHR
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- bead (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- extension panels
- pictorial
- allegorical
- monogram
- text
- humans
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the early 18th century in England.
Current location:, England.
- Attached to series:
- SHR series