Firebacks

Edging: cavetto

131 results

  1. 895

    vero_beach, fl.jpg
    679 x 540 mm

    Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape, semi-circular protrusions on top corners; cavetto-moulded edging looped at top; two mirrored scrolls inside arch; a phoenix in flames, its wings displayed and inverted; date, in two parts, in top corners; initials in bottom right corner.

    Notes: A variant (no. 590) lacks the date and the initials.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 16 50 / IM

    Manufactured: in 1650 possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: not known.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2014, 'A Seventeenth-Century Sussex Woodcarver: The Evidence of Cast Ironwork', Regional Furniture, 28, pp. 39-48.

  2. 1071

    westbury_on severn, boseley court.jpg
    1640 x >400 mm

    Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; horizontal line of twisted rope parallel with the top; two vertical lines of twisted rope parallel to the sides; fillet arc inside the corner of the horizontal and vertical lines; each arc encloses 28 (left) or 29 (right) 'daisy heads', with a line of the same stamp around the inside of the lines; in the top corners, the split date; in the top compartment, initials, TH, between 22 hollow saltires, each with a central bead, in a horizontal line, 11 on each side; in each side compartment, at least seven hollow saltires arranged vertically.

    Notes: The fireback is partially sunk into the floor of the hearth, so its height is not known.

    Inscription: 16 TH 99

    Manufactured: in 1699 in the Forest of Dean area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, England.

  3. 94

    westerham,_squerryes court 01.jpg
    960 x 750 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo moulded edge all round; the fireback is divided, unequally, into three Old Testament scenes. Centre left: Joseph is pushed into a well shaft by one of his brothers; above, six other brothers, wearing cloaks and sober puritan hats, look on; below, one of Joseph’s brothers presents Jacob with Joseph’s coat; Joseph utters the words, ‘Ah it is my son’s coat’ in a speech bubble above. Top right: Isaac kneels on a wooden pyre; behind him, Abraham holds Isaac’s head with his left hand, and raises a cleaver above his head with his right hand; above Abraham, an angel stays his hand; to the right of Isaac a ram stands beside a bush. Bottom right: beneath a pergola Jacob lies on his deathbed; his twelve sons gather round his bed.

    Notes: The scenes depicted are derived from, respectively, Genesis 38: 20-24 & 32-33, Genesis 22: 6-13, and Genesis 49. The distinctive pictorial subject, the naïve figuration, as well as a number of minor features, such as the use of an ‘S’ scroll, draw parallels with the Lenard fireback, and the pattern may have been the work of the same wood carver, suggesting that it may share the same source. Another, probably contemporary, example is at Hampton Court.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: AH IT IS MY SONES COT [Genesis 38: 33]

    Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Squerryes Court, Westerham, Kent, England.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2007, 'A Godly chimney plate and other firebacks from Brede', Wealden Iron, 2nd ser., 27, pp. 18-26.

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

    Citation: Robertson, W. A. S., 1886, 'Squerryes Court, the Camp and the Pictures', Archaeologia Cantiana, 16, pp. 134-141.

  4. 1009

    westland_ltd 9961 400x480a.jpg
    400 x 480 mm

    Description: Narrow, arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; a standing female figure in flowing robes, facing forward, holding in her right hand a slanting inverted anchor, a poorly modelled left arm apparently beckoning; arched rectangular border with cavetto-moulded edging enclosing, on each side of the central panel, a festoon of acanthus suspended from a ribbon bow; along the base is a line of acanthus leaves; under the arch, descending foliage.

    Notes: The figure is likely to be an allegory of Hope. A recasting, hence the loss of image definition.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the late-17th century in England.

    Current location: Westland Ltd, St Leonard's Church, Leonard Street, Shoreditch, London, England.

  5. 789

    whatlington,_hancox 02.jpg
    1370 x 1084 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular on a plain rectangular plinth; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides) with repeated floriate motif; within mirrored olive leaves, shield (three pallets, on a fess in chief three mullets, an eagle displayed) surmounted by a crown; on each side above the plinth, a bracket formed of a rose within a foliate swirl; on each shoulder, a dolphin.

    Notes: A baroque style of fireback; the excrescences on the shield are the result of careless pouring of the iron into the mould.

    Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in France.

    Current location: in private hands, Whatlington, East Sussex, England.

  6. 791

    whiligh_1.jpg
    ~600 x ~550 mm

    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.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Ticehurst, East Sussex, England.

  7. 1289

    wilkinsons,_doncaster,_25_feb_2024_lot_606_690x1000.jpg
    690 x 1000 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with additional arch above; bead edging; pictorial scene of Solomon, rising seated on a scallop-backed, canopied throne, greeting the Queen of Sheba, with other figures in attendance; identical shaped border with cavetto-moulded edging; a vase on top with descending swags of drapery; at the sides, festoons of flowers suspended from ribbon bows; at the bottom, a central cartouche between fruit bunches; on top, a bunch of three flowers with an ascending serpent on each side, and a bunch pf fl;owers on each shoulder of the plate.

    Notes: Several contemporary paintings are of similar scenes; this design may have been derived from a Dutch engraving of a drawing by an anonymous French artist after Maarten van Heemskerck. Close observation shows that the scene depicted, and some other decorative elements, are different to those on a similar fireback, no. 489. Wilkinsons auction, Doncaster, 25 Mar 2024, lot 606 (£200).

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: not known.

  8. 588

    winchester_museum store 01.jpg
    905 x 740 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with semi-circular protrusions at the sides; cavetto-moulded edging; a pheon (a downward-pointing arrow head barbed on the inner edge) within a wreath, an earl’s coronet above; the date on either side of the coronet; the initials on left and right sides; a fleur de lys in each bottom corner.

    Notes: The detail of the wreath differs from that on the 1626 plate.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 16 30 / R L

    Manufactured: in 1630 possibly at Robertsbridge Furnace, Salehurst in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Winchester Museums Store, Unit F2, Bar End Industrial Estate, Winchester, Hampshire, Winchester, Hampshire, England.

    Museum number: WINCM:LH 5704 (part of the Winchester Museums museum group)

  9. 795

    winchester_museum store 03.jpg
    757 x 600 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, supporters and motto; initials split by crown.

    Notes: The arches of the crown are not typically English in form, suggesting a possibly continental pattern-maker.

    Inscription: C R / HONI SOIT QVI MAL ...PEN...

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in the 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Winchester Museums Store, Unit F2, Bar End Industrial Estate, Winchester, Hampshire, Winchester, Hampshire, England.

    Museum number: WINCM:LH 3737 (part of the Winchester Museums museum group)

  10. 1303

    worth,_sandhill.jpg
    990 x 790 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto edging; armorial; Stuart English royal arms within a circular garter; crown, motto and supporters (crowned lion and unicorn); initials separated by cro wn; date - 1643 - inserted outside Garter.

    Notes: A widely copied fireback with the date, 1643, probably spurious, inserted when copied. An earlier casting without the date is no. 350.

    Inscription: C R / 1 6 / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / 4 3 / DIEU ET MON DROIT

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in the mid-17th century in England.

    Current location: in private hands, Worth, West Sussex, England.