Firebacks

Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging; date along the top; initials in triad across the middle; fleur-de-lys stamp repeated eight times down each side, pointing to the side or up in the order (from the top): side (2), then alternately, up first.

Notes: The initials probably represent those of a married couple, the 'H' for their surname; it is unusual for twisted rope edging to continue along the bottom of the plate.

Inscription: 1626 / RHL

Description: Arched rectangular shape with demi-bullnose edging (top and sides); 'AD' curved in arch, with straight date below; central letter 'H' in the form of a horse's bit, with initials 'F' and 'J' respectively above and below; two lengths of rope with tasselled ends looped and tied symmetrically around the 'H' and on each side.

Notes: A finely moulded personal fireback with an equestrian connection.

Inscription: AD / 1909 / HFJ

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with hollow bead edging; to the right, a seated male figure beside a wellhead, pointing towards a standing female resting a ewer on the wellhead over which a rope hangs, and behind the male figure is a tree, 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 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), while the pictorial scene, of Jesus and the Woman of Samaria (St John 4: 5-28) is more typical of continental firebacks and stoveplates. This may be an example of an image from one casting being superimposed within the frame of an earlier fireback. The central image is sharper than the surrounding border.

Inscription: SHR

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with fillet edging; central seated female with an infant in her arms, a swan at her feet and a standing child on each side, the one to her left facing the front and holding aloft a flaming heart, its foot on a ball; the child to her right facing the woman, holding aloft a branch in its left hand, all on a ground with an overhanging tree to the right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging with descending festoons of acanthus flowers on each side, the date and initials at the bottom and, at the top on each side, a pair of acanthus flowers descending from a heart-shaped terminal of a strapwork frame; above, mirrored swirls of foliage.

Notes: The central pictorial scene is a crude pastiche of a panel portraying an allegory of Charity frequently used on firebacks produced in the Siegerland of north-west Germany for the Dutch market in the second half of the seventeenth century. The swirled foliage on the top is typical of English 'Dutch' style firebacks of the early-eighteenth century and the numerals are also more typically English in style.

Inscription: 17 . IAK[?] 31

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with hollow bead edging; draped male figure standing on undulating ground with two small trees, holding a bar, flaming furnaces behind, drapery suspended from above; Arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging; swirled flowers and tendrils symmetrically arranged, with monogram at centre bottom; symmetrical arrangement of foliage on top.

Notes: The figure is of Pluto, one of a set of 'Eight Deities' engraved by Hendrick Goltzius (1592), after Polidoro da Caravaggio; a recasting, there is a larger (420mm x 640mm) but more corroded version in Hastings Museum. The faint initials SHR are probably those of the pattern-maker. The image is of a copy; original castings are fractionally larger.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: SHR

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on broad fillet edging; pictorial scene of a figure in a chariot on left, drawn across clouds by two peacocks; above, a putto and a bird flying in clouds; to the right, a tree; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; symmetrical undulating oak fronds descending from a loop; at the bottom, the letter W in a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, mirrored swirled foliage descending from a loop.

Notes: The figure is likely to be that of Hera/Juno, who is traditionally associated with peacocks. The initial 'W' probably identifies the pattern maker; a single vertical line right of centre indicates the join between two boards that formed the pattern. The 'W' initial probably denotes the pattern maker.

Inscription: W

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging (top and sides) enclosing a shield, helm, crest, mantling and motto of the Fitch family, descendants of Edwin Frederick Fitch (1839-1916); above the achievement, symmetrical laurel leaves, all within an arched rectangular astragal border surmounted by, on the dexter side, a behelmeted merman holding a scimitar and, on the sinister side, a mermaid holding a mirror; top centre, three ostrich feathers gathered with a ribbon.

Notes: A pastiche of the 17th century Carolean 'Dutch' series (e.g. no. 280). Blazon: Vert, on a chevron between three leopards' faces or langued gules, as many cross crosslets fitchee of the last, in the chief point an ermine spot of the second; Crest: Upon a wreath of the colours, a leopard's face erminois pierced through the mouth with a sword broken in the middle argent, pommel and hilt or.

Inscription: FACTA NON VERBA [Actions not words]

Arms: Fitch

Description: Canted rectangle with twisted rope edging; uneven, individually stamped letters and numerals, the initials separating the two parts of the date, which are raised slightly higher; dots are stamped on each side of each half of the date and between the initials; a twisted rope saltire at each end of the inscription.

Notes: The plate above the inscription is a repair, as are the rivets either side of the crack.

Inscription: ·16· M · N ·59·

Description: Rectangular; cyma recta moulded edging in short lengths (top and sides, with gap at bottom of each side); top centre, rose and crown between four small fleurs-de-lys (2 over 2); date split in top corners, with concentric roundel inside, next to upper fleurs; below date, concentric roundel, with small rose inside, next to lower fleurs; the whole arrangement symmetrical.

Notes: The only example of this series with no initials; one vertical plankline. The style of rose and crown is similar to that used in gun founding in the Tudor period, suggesting that the furnace that was the source of this fireback may have been used for that purpose.

Inscription: 16 85

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); canted rope lengths across top corners; three impressions of a rondel dagger (c. 410mm) with a baluster-turned grip, the middle one per fess, pommel in chief, the other two on either side, per bend, points in chief.

Notes: The arrangement of daggers is similar to the arms of Vigures, of Launceston, Cornwall, but inverted; the plate has been pierced on each side for fixing to the back of the fireplace; the dagger (length approx. 41cm) may be of German design.