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1280
Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); two approximately parallel horizontal lines of twisted rope across the upper centre; from the upper line and starting at the top corners, seven regularly spaced vertical lines of twisted rope extending to the top edge.
Notes: A simple rope design without apotropaic significance.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-16th to early-17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Wadhurst, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
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778
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto/cyma recta moulded edging; plain rectangular panels at sides; top centre, bull’s head and neck issuing from a marquesal coronet, a baronial coronet above.
Notes: The crest of the Barons Bergavenny, although it should issue from a ducal, rather than a marchesal, coronet, and the rose normally placed on the neck is missing. The carved crest was affixed to a board of similar shape but smaller dimensions to the board with the moulded edging, indicating that the moulded board could have been used for other firebacks. Believed to have formerly been at Maresfield Park, Sussex.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- carved stamps
- carved pattern panels
- extension panels
- heraldic
Manufactured: in the early-18th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Waldron, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Bergavenny firebacks
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991
Description: Rectangular with fillet edging (top and sides) formed from separate strips, possible from furniture; date split by letters in triad; number '1' has a central knob.
Notes: The initials are believed to relate to Thomas and Mary Manser, who occupied the Star Inn, Waldron, East Sussex, in the seventeenth century.
Inscription: 16 TMM 94
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- text
Manufactured: in 1694 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: The Star Inn, Waldron, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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1159
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, nut-shell on fillet edging, narrow-necked vase on a ground, with flowers and pea pods issuing therefrom, a plant in a pot to each side; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and descending quasi-symmetrical floral tendrils; on top, quasi-symmetrical swirled foliage; date split between bottom corners, with two looped 'W' figures between. A single plankline is evident to right of centre.
Notes: The fourth largest of six flower vase designs on a discrete series of firebacks from 1724. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker.
Inscription: 17 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
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1246
Description: Low-arched shape within broad fillet edging marked with a repeated leaf pattern ascending toward the top; on an incised criss-cross field a Tudor royal shield, quarterly France Modern and England, supported by a stylised, scaly dragon and greyhound and surmounted by a crown, all resting on a two-stepped compartment with cavetto- and astragal-moulded edging at the top.
Notes: Pastiche 'Tudor' design by George Shaw of Saddleworth, Lancashire, c.1850, possibly intended to be passed off as genuine Tudor. Examples are also to be found in Lichfield Guildhall (without the leaf pattern on the edging and the 'scales' on the dragon) and Cheetham's Library, Manchester. Firebacks of the same armorial design within a different, arched rectangular, edging are known, an example being at Mottistone Manor, on the Isle of Wight (no. 1296).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- rounded arched (shape)
- custom with repeated leaf pattern (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the mid-19th century possibly in the Lancashire area of England.
Current location: Warkworth Castle, Warkworth, Northumberland, England.
(part of the English Heritage museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
- George Shaw series
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899
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; top centre, inscription panel.
Notes: The inscription panel is identical to that on the memorial plate to Anne Forster in Crowhurst church, Surrey; at least ten other firebacks are known with the same inscription panel. In the will of John Weston, of Weston's Place, Warnham, are bequests to his kinswoman, Frances Forster, daughter of Robert Forster (one of the two sons of Anne Forster), and to John Forster, his godson (TNA, PROB 11/190/472); John Weston's wife was Bridget, grand-daughter of Anne Forster.
Inscription: HER : LIETH : ANE : FORST/ R : DAVGHTER : AND : / HEYR : TO : THOMAS : / GAYNSFORD : ESQVIER / DECEASED : XVIII : OF: / IANVARI : 1591 : LEAVYNG / BEHIND : HER II : SONES : / AND : V : DAVGHTERS
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved pattern panels
- planklines
- text
Manufactured: in the late-16th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Weston's Place, Dorking Road, Warnham, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Anne Forster series
- Pounsley series
- Epitaph firebacks
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153
Description: Arched rectangular; gadrooned edging (top and sides); three spondles as stamps - one centre top, and a different one on each side to left and right of arch base - initials and date split either side of top spimdle.
Notes: The distinctive edging and use of spindles or bobbins is seen on other firebacks; similar initials and date suggest a common source; the initials may relate to John Weston, of Warnham, Sussex (d. 1642). A rectangular fireback of the same date and also with three identical spindles is at Ewhurst Place, Ifield.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I W / 16 32
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- date stamp
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1632 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Warnham, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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1252
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape; no edging; arched rectangular central panel edged with a garland within a cartouche between guilloche-moulded bands that extend vertically below to form two further panels separated by a similar but plain band; the two bottom panels each extend sideways to form simulated pedestals; below is a plain, borderless panel. Within the main panel, at each corner a cherub head facing towards the centre; within the border of the panel, a symmetrical strapwork band forms the edge of a cartouche that is scrolled at the bottom and which curves away from the edge of the panel at the sides to reveal scrolls from behind, and which forms a heart shape in front of each of the putti enclosing an indeterminate feature; in the centre of the panel, resting upon a scrolled cartouche with scallop shells to left and right, a gadrooned medallion enclosing the depiction of an empty mural monument, draped from above and with a lion's mask below. Resting upon the pedestal to the right, a consol enclosing an indeterminate circular feature with two descending bands; on the pedestal to the left a similar consol and indeterminate circular feature but with a single descending band; above each consol the head of a classical deity facing to right and left respectively, above which are rows of vertical figures, four on the left and two on the right, which may be caryatid figures possibly intended to depict the Daughters of Athens on the Parthenon; above the main panel symmetrical scrolls. In the lower panel, a central rectangular cartouche, scrolled at the top and bottom, between symmetrical vignettes.
Notes: Some of the detail is too indistinct to permit accurate description, but a fireback of untypical design features that are all characteristic of the early-17th century.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with ornate arch (shape)
- none (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- architectural
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in England.
Current location: in private hands, Wartling, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
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1106
Description: Arched rectangular shape with quadrant extensions on top corners; twisted rope edging (top and sides); vertical rope line parallel to each side, forming two separate side panels; horizontal rope line joined to vertical lines enclosing the following: inside arch, initials IBA in triad; below initials, double fleur-de-lys stamp between split date 1693; below horizontal line, a double fleur stamp in each top corner of central lower panel; in each side panel, a single bead above a vertical sequence of squared cross stamps repeated nine times.
Notes: The distinctive squared cross and fleur stamps are seen on other firebacks; the initials in triad may relate to a husband and wife. The photograph had to be taken through a perspex sheet marked with bird droppings.
Inscription: IBA [triad] / 16 93
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1693 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Northgate House, Northgate, Warwick, Warwickshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Square cross Dean series
- Newent area group
- Date & initials firebacks
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43
Description: Arched rectangular shape with ovolo canted top corners; fillet edging; within a cartouche, shield of the Worshipful Company of Barber-Surgeons - quarterly, first and fourth, Sable a Chevron between three Fleams Argent, second and third, Per pale of the second and Vert on a Spatter also Argent a Tudor Rose proper crowned Or; on a Cross Gules dividing the quarters a Lion passant guardant Or; the date is above the shield, which is surmounted by a vase from which are displayed a flower and leaf stems; the same occupy the spaces on each side of the shield, below which is a motto scroll.
Notes: The arms on this fireback were granted to the company in 1569.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1631
Arms: Worshipful Company of Barber-Surgeons
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners and round arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1631 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:, England.
- Attached to series:
- Livery company firebacks