Firebacks

Edging: fillet and cavetto

  1. 1193

    crowther_05_650x875.jpg
    650 x 875 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with a 'flame' on each shoulder and a broken one on top of the arch; fillet and cavetto-moulded edging; lower centre, shield with impaled arms, dexter two bars in high relief, sinister a crowned lion rampant, all in front of a foliate cartouche terminating in mirrored swirls below the shield; above, a beaded coronet; in the arch, the date split either side of mirrored foliate swags suspended from a bow and from a flower in each shoulder, with a short central vertical swag above the coronet.

    Notes: A fireback in high relief with an inserted date.

    Inscription: 16 62

    Arms: not known

    Manufactured: in 1662 in France.

    Current location: English Salvage Ltd, North Road, Leominster, Herefordshire, England.

  2. 147

    hastings_030.jpg
    623 x 755 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with rounded corners; ovolo within fillet moulding all round; oval Tudor royal shield with garter surrounding, topped with a royal crown; dragon and greyhound supporters; initials split by crown; inscription on a fillet between legs of supporters, behind garter finial; motto on an Ionic plinth at bottom.

    Notes: The supporters are those of Henry VII or Henry VIII, but the initials suggest the fireback dates from the reign of Edward VI (1547-53). John Harvo (d. c1565) was a gunfounder who has been identified as occupying Pounsley furnace, Framfield, Sussex, possibly from as early as 1547. This fireback is also seen with a variety of rectangular, rope-edged side panels bearing stamps or letters, some of which link the source of this and other groups of firebacks. The pattern or model for this fireback may have been made during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47), with the initials added to an early casting using the original pattern. The protuberance on the bottom of the plate may be the remains of the runner from a pouring basin or overflow channel used during casting. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: E R / HONY SOYT QVE MAL Y PAVNCE / Made in Sussex by John Harvo / DV ET MOVN DRO

    Arms: Tudor royal (Edward VI)

    Manufactured: in the mid-16th century probably at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: HASMG: 1952.51.52 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

    Citation: Butterfield, W. R., 1916, 'Old Wealden Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 46, pp. 197-209.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

    Citation: Steer, F. W., Jan 1957, 'Notes on an early fireback at Yale University', The Yale University Library Gazette, 31, 3, pp. 137-141.

  3. 367

    leicester,_newarke houses 01.jpg
    640 x 648 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet and cavetto moulded edging; pictorial scene of three children, the centre one holding a stick strung with a bunch of grapes over his shoulder, and sitting on a goat.

    Notes: A mythological scene of the young Bacchus.

    Manufactured: in the 18th century in France.

    Current location: Newarke Houses, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.

    Museum number: H.358.1953.0.0 (part of the Leicester City Museums museum group)

    Citation: Carpentier, H., 1912, Plaques de Cheminées (Paris, published by the author).

  4. 629

    ripley_046.jpg
    525 x 515 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with cavetto canted shoulders; wide fillet edging with cavetto moulding inside; within a baroque frame, the seated figure of an old man clasping his cloak, a smoking urn to his left.

    Notes: Probably the allegorical figure of Winter.

    Manufactured: in the 18th century in France.

    Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.

  5. 734

    va_10.jpg
    195 x 195 mm

    Description: Rectangular; wide fillet and cavetto-moulded edging; female figure holding a bow, with a quiver of arrows on her back, standing on a scallop shell; foliate swirls on each side.

    Notes: The figure is that of Diana or Artemis.

    Manufactured: in the early-18th century in France.

    Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington & Chelsea, Greater London, England.

    Museum number: M.114-1929 (part of the Victoria & Albert Museum museum group)