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1088
Description: Canted rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); across the top, double star stamp repeated nine times; below and top centre, date between initials in triad; below date, large hollow fleur-de-lys stamp repeated three times in a line between two triads of stylised fleur-de-lys stamps, with one of the same stamps in each bottom corner; lower centre, woodblock stamp repeated three times in a line.
Notes: The initials 'IIA' in triad probably relate to a couple whose surname initial was 'I' or 'J'; a fireback, dated 1659, with some of the same stamps is at the Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley, Gloucestershire, and another, dated 1667, has been noted at Upper End Farm, Hope Mansell, Herefordshire. Brightwells Auctioneers, Leominster, 27 Jul 2016, lot 694 (£480 inc. grate).
Inscription: IIA [triad] 1668 IIA [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1668 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Hollow fleur Dean series
- Newent area group
- Date & initials firebacks
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1029
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; shield, supporters, earl's coronet and motto scroll.
Notes: The arms are of the Hyde family: azure, a chevron between three lozenges or; the supporters: two eagles, wings endorsed sable, ducally crowned and charged on the breast with a cross or; Edward Hyde (1609-74) was created earl of Clarendon in 1661. An excrescence over the sinister supporter indicates where the iron was poured clumsily into the open sand mould.
Arms: Hyde, earls of Clarendon
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- armorial
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in England.
Current location: The Lygon Arms, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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831
Description: Rectangular with small detached pediment; cavetto-moulded edging; upper centre, shield, helm, crest and mantling, with date, 1635, split either side of crest; top, date, 1649, split either side of armorial; initials split either side of armorial, below date.
Notes: The armorial, tentatively associated with the family of Brooke or Broke of Madeley, Shropshire (blazon: chequy argent and sable, impaling a chevron between three estoiles), dated 1635, was formed from a pattern designed for a smaller fireback (see no. 917), but positioned on a larger backing board with the later date and initials added separately, most of the frame of the original fireback being pared away. From an illustration in the catalogue of an exhibition on heraldry at Burlington House, London, in 1894.
Inscription: 16 35 / 16 49 / R B
Arms: poss. Brooke or Broke of Staffordshire
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with detached pediment (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- carved pattern panels
- composite
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1649 in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Composite firebacks
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29
Description: Rectangular; cavetto moulded edging; initials in top left corner; date in top right corner.
Notes: The style of lettering and numerals is reminiscent of those seen on firebacks associated with the Sidneys, Earls of Leicester, and may suggest a common source.
Inscription: IB 1695
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1695 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 761128 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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1121
Description: Rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; central abstract arrangement in low relief of a horizontally positioned oval surrounded by four separated spandrels forming a rectangular shape over all; at each side, on a raised rectangular field, a stylised bud or cone of helical form, within a calyx above a semi-circular base, one mirroring the other. A deep plankline is evident half way up the left plant.
Notes: An excrescence on the right side may have been caused by iron being poured from a ladle disturbing the casting sand. There are no parallels for this fireback design. The central abstract arrangement may be associated with a formal plan of a garden parterre, the stylised plants continuing that theme.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- architectural
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Buxted, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
- Garden design types
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916
Description: Rectangular, with a detached pediment joined by rebated scrolls; cavetto-moulded edging; circular 'shield' in a cartouche, surmounted by an esquire's helm and lion rampant crest, with mantling behind; initials split by crest; date split in top corners.
Notes: The armorial is of David Prichard (d. 1630) of Llancaiac Fawr Manor; the blazon follows the patriarchal tradition of Welsh heraldry: quarterly, 1st, Sable a lion rampant Argent (for Cydrych ap Gwaithfoed), 2nd, Sable a chevron between three fleurs de lys Argent (for Einion ap Gollwyn), 3rd, Gules three chevrons Argent (for Iestyn ap Gwrgan), and 4th, Sable a chevron between three spear-heads Argent (for Bleddyn ap Maenyrch); the '8' of the date has a flattened top. A copy, from a broken original.
Inscription: D P / 16 28
Arms: Prichard (or ap Richard)
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with detached pediment (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1628 possibly at Dyffryn Furnace in the South Wales area of Wales.
Current location: Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: GTJ75111 (part of the Caerphilly County Borough Council Museums & Heritage Service museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Welsh armorial firebacks
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917
Description: Rectangular with detached pediment joined by S-curves; cavetto-moulded edging; shield, helm, bird crest and mantling, with date, 1635, split either side of crest; bottom of casting missing due to corrosion.
Notes: Tentatively identified as the arms of Brooke or Broke of Lapley, Staffordshire (blazon: chequy argent and sable, impaling a chevron between three estoiles); this fireback, or its pattern, have been used as a stamp on another fireback with a later date and initials added separately (see no. 831).
Inscription: 16 35
Arms: poss. Brooke of Staffordshire
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with detached pediment (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1635 in England.
Current location: The Museum of Cambridge, 2/3 Castle Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
(part of the The Museum of Cambridge museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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225
Description: Canted rectangle; cavetto moulded edging (top and sides); single horizontal fillet below canted corners and vertical fillet parallel to each side, dividing the fireback into two side panels, two top corner panels, top panel and main central panel; corner panels, ‘daisy’ plant stamp; top panel, date between ‘daisy’ stamps, between initials in triad at each end; side panels, swirling foliage stamp repeated each side above initials, I to left, B to right; centre panel, stamp of ‘Indian’ smoking a pipe at top left, stamp of seated ‘gentleman’ smoking a pipe and holding another, at top right.
Notes: The 'daisy' stamp and the IB initials are identical to those on similar firebacks dated between 1703 and 1721, and probably indicating the same founder. The use of stamps relating to tobacco smoking may suggest an origin near Bristol, the main entry port for the tobacco trade at that time. Formerly at Lilly Hall, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Inscription: TVI [triad] 1708 TVI [triad] / I B
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in 1708 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: 13.90/2 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- IB series
- Date & initials firebacks
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1267
Description: Arched shape; cavetto moulded edge; double-headed eagle displayed, a Holy Roman Imperial crown above; in front, a quartered shield; a flaming pillar on each side, a motto scroll entwining each.
Notes: The shield bears the arms of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (reigned 1519-1556), king of Spain and nephew of Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England; the pillars are a symbolic representation of the Pillars of Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar. Some variants of this fireback have a different date (e.g. see no. 627) or none at all.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: PLUS OVLTRE [Further Beyond]
Arms: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- Decoration tags:
- rounded arched (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1597 possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.
Current location: Owletts, The Street, Cobham, Kent, England.
(part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Foreign armorial firebacks
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37
Description: Arched rectangular shaped; cavetto moulded edging; male figure in dress of the period, right hand on hip, left hand holding reins, astride a prancing horse; date and inscription (letter 'N' reversed) follow inside top edge.
Notes: Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1612-1671), commander of the New Model Army, which probably prompted the epithet, conqueror. 1649 was the year of Charles I's execution, to which Fairfax was opposed.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1649 LD FAIRFAX COVNQVIROR
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- historical
- text
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in 1649 in England.
Current location: in private hands, Cowbeech, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Commemorative firebacks