-
479
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging; on a ground between two plants, a gadrooned flower vase with two, scrolled handles, tulips and other flowers issuing from the narrow neck; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; mirrored descending flower swags; along a rectangular bottom panel with fillet edging a symmetrical arrangement of swirled foliage; on top, two mirrored sea serpents.
Notes: The presence of tulips suggest a Dutch origin for the pattern of this fireback, although the presence of several examples in England suggest that it was produced here rather than on the Continent.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Manufactured: in the late 17th century in England.
Current location: Maidstone Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, England.
(part of the Maidstone Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Flower Vase 'Dutch' types
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
1170
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on broad fillet edging; two-handled vase standing on a ground, with flowers and oak fronds issuing therefrom in a symmetrical display; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; symmetrical undulating vine with flowers and leaves descending from a trio of flowers; at the bottom, the letter W in a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, mirrored swirled foliage issuing upwards from a mythical creature on each shoulder.
Notes: The floral theme and its execution shows parallels with the SHR, N and 1724 series of firebacks and could be from the same workshop. The 'W' initial probably denotes the pattern maker.
Inscription: W
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.
Current location:, USA.
- Attached to series:
- W series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
817
Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; shield, helm, crest and mantling of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths (see Fig. 3); date in top corners; initials at bottom, below mantling; two planklines.
Notes: One of the hooked ‘1’ series; a copy from an evenly impressed original.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 50 / I M
Arms: Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1650 possibly at Brede furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Mayfield, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Hooked '1' series
- Livery company firebacks
- Brede group
-
488
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; fillet edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a cartouche; above, an English crown.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625. Said to have been cast by Thomas Prickett (1727-95) at Gloucester Furnace, Lamberhurst. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: France modern
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century probably at Lamberhurst furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Michelham Priory, Arlington, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.068 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
-
1131
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with 'nutshell' edging; pictorial: Mercury in his chariot drawn by two birds (possibly ravens) across the clouds, his caduceus held aloft; above are clouds, below is a landscape with plants; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, a scallop shell top centre with descending symmetrical arrangement of vine and acanthus leaves and tendrils; the monogram, SHR, bottom centre; on top is a symmetrical design of scrolled floral tendrils. One vertical plankline right of centre.
Notes: The design is based on a personification of the planet Mercury in 'Planetarum effectus et eorum in signis zodiaci', by Marten de Vos (1585). The holes were for fixing to a grate.
Inscription: SHR
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- allegorical
- monogram
- animals
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.
Current location: Lassco, Three Pigeons, Milton Common, Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- SHR series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
53
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead on fillet edging, narrow-necked urn with flowers issuing therefrom; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical floral swags; on top, stylised fish with floral accessories; at bottom, two looped 'W' figures between split date in bottom corners.
Notes: The second smallest of five flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The four holes relate to its former fixing to a grate.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 24
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: Thornhill Galleries, 43-45 Wellington Crescent, New Malden, London, England.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
866
Description: Rectangular with a sinuous arch and three simulated loops, one top centre, the other two to each side; two-handled flower vase with gadrooned upper surface and acanthus bas-relief below, trailing fruited vines issuing from top descending through handles to base; lion’s mask at top; date split either side of vase base; ball on each shoulder of the plate; broadened side edges.
Notes: The simulated loops are seen on a small number of other firebacks, suggesting a common pattern-maker; a variation on a design typical of this period.
Inscription: 16 77
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- extension panels
- pictorial
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1677 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000, Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, United States of America.
Museum number: 08.81.1 (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
- Loop edged firebacks
-
867
Description: Arched rectangular central panel; bead-and-pellet edging; pictorial scene of a male figure, standing on a ground with trees and animals, with a quiver of arrows and holding a bow in his left hand; clouds above; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; repeated, linked scroll-work on all sides; on top symmetrical leaves between two mirrored serpents.
Notes: The figure is probably that of Apollo.
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- mythological
- animals
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in the early 18th century in England.
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000, Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, United States of America.
Museum number: 08.81.2 (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum group)
- Attached to series:
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
868
Description: Rectangular with arched, mirrored scrolls on top and central scallop shell, below which are swagged drapes with a central tassel; fillet edging; in a grove, to the left a putto blowing a horn, to the right a semi-naked female figure seated, holding the tail of a fish, with two ?dogs at her feet; at the bottom, narrow panel with symmetrical scrolled foliate decoration.
Notes: Like others in the series, the scene is not immediately identifiable with a scene in classical mythology.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- mythological
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in the early 18th century in England.
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000, Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, United States of America.
Museum number: 08.81.6 (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Late pictorial series (all)
- Late pictorial series 2
-
549
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead on fillet edging, narrow-necked urn with flowers issuing therefrom; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical floral festoons; on top, stylised fish with floral accessories; at bottom, two looped 'W' figures between date split between bottom corners.
Notes: The smallest of five flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 24
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000, Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, United States of America.
Museum number: 08.81.3 (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks