Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-on-fillet edging; femal figure holding scales in her right hand and a sword in her left hand, foliage and clouds behind; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; from a central bow with three tassels at the top, two suspended festoons of flowers, each running through a ring under the top corners, and continuing along the bottom; on top, a central cartouche between mirrored foliate scrolls.

Notes: The female is an allegorical representation of Justice.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel; bead-and-pellet edging; pictorial scene of a male figure seated in a chariot, his left arm resting on the side of the chariot, his right hand holding a sceptre at arm’s length, the chariot drawn by two lions across a ground with small bushes; clouds above with the personification of the wind blowing to the left; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; repeated, linked scroll-work on all sides; on top a vase of fruit between two mirrored serpents; on each side, rectangular extension panel with a curved top copying the side borders.

Notes: A variant has no extension panels; similar to other designs incorporating figures in chariots, though not from the same series.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-on-fillet edging, pictorial representation of a man and woman walking, behind the woman a child holds her train and a young person carries a parasol; from behind a column on the right, a horse's head is visible, a tree stands to the left, at the foot of the scene is the word 'EVROPA'; tall-arched rectangular border with fillet edging; at top of arch, a lion's head above a ring, with descending grape vines on each side; at each side, a festoon of fruit suspended on a ribbon from a lion's head; at the bottom, an oval cartouche between flowers; on top, a Holy Roman Imperial crown between two descending dolphins.

Notes: The pictorial scene is based on an engraving c.1642 of Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg, and his wife, Luise Henriette of Oranje-Nassau, by Mathias Czwiczek; one of series of firebacks depicting allegories of the four continents.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: EVROPA

Description: Rectangular central panel with fillet edging; poorly modelled standing figure possibly of Diana, goddess of hunting, holding a bow in her left hand and an arrow in her right hand, on a low plinth; border with fillet edging along sides and bottom, with mirrored vine tendril and leaves on each side; date split either side of leaves at bottom; on top, symmetrical swirled foliate arrangement.

Notes: A characteristic small fireback from the period of the changeover to coal-fired domestic heating.

Inscription: 17 33

Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular central panel, bead edging, a partially clothed female figure holding a wreath in her left hand and a bunch of flowers in her right hand, a circlet of cloth hanging from her right shoulder; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and floral swags suspended; on top, flowers and swirled foliage.

Notes: The figure is an allegorical representation of Agriculture, one of the Iconologia originally published by Cesare Ripa in 1613. A damaged recasting is in Farnham Museum. The 'W' initial probably denotes the pattern maker.

Inscription: W

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with five-bead and open pellet edging; pictorial: regal figure in his chariot drawn by two horses, a sceptre in his right hand; above, a putto descends from swagged curtains and a pair of tassels; below is a landscape with a cornucopia; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, a scallop shell top centre with symmetrical arrangement of ivy and acanthus leaves and tendrils; the initial, N, in a cartouche bottom centre, between symmetrical oak fronds, leaves and acorns; above is a symmetrical design of scrolled floral tendrils terminating in sea monsters.

Notes: Very similar in design and execution to firebacks of the SHR and EB series, suggesting designs emanating from the same source and with a a similar inspiration. The figure in the chariot may be an allegory of the Sun.

Inscription: N

Description: Canted rectangle; fillet edging (top and sides); date to full width across centre of plate.

Notes: Bold, evenly-spaced numerals.

Inscription: 1680

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging; naked figure of Poseidon/Neptune holding a a trident in his raised left hand, his right arm extended; he is sitting on a bridge over a flowing stream; to his right a merman, half immersed, blows a shell trumpet; above centre, is the word AQUA (water - Latin); above is a swag of drapery enclosing a scallop shell; outside the panel is a narrow border of the same shape with fillet edging; the fireback is surmounted by a scallop shell between two outward-facing sea serpents.

Notes: One of a series of four designs of the classical elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: AQUA

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with additional arch above; bead and fillet edging; pictorial scene of, on the left, a tree next to a female and, in the centre, a male figure, both in eastern dress, a page behind holding a train, and to the right a short obelisk surmounted by a crescent, behind which is the head of a figure with a camel; behind is a small building also surmounted by a crescent, with clouds above; the word, ASIA, is centre bottom; identical shaped border with cavetto-moulded edging; a pomegranate on top with descending swags of drapery; at the sides, overlapping bunches of foliage suspended from ribbon bows; at the bottom, a central cartouche between fruit bunches; on top, a pomegranate with a descending serpent on each side, and a pomegranate on each shoulder of the plate.

Notes: A pastiche of the EUROPA design based on an engraving c.1642 of Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg, and his wife, Luise Henriette of Oranje-Nassau, by Mathias Czwiczek, with the figures adopting very similar poses in an oriental setting; one of series depicting allegories of the four continents. A recasting.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: ASIA / MB

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with beaded edging, containing an image of a semi-naked adult male with feathered headdress and 'grass' skirt and holding a club in his left hand; beside hima an adult female also wearing a 'grass' skirt and with a bird perched on her left hand, while holding with her right hand a standing child; within an arched rectangular border with fillet edging, descending from draped foliage on each side, swags or what appear to be coconuts or gourds, and at the bottom a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, the mask of a putto with dolphins descending on each side.

Notes: One of a series portraying allegories of the four known continents - Europe, Asia, Africa and America; each comprises a pair of adults and a child dressed stereotypically. The images were derived from other media, such as paintings or engravings.

Copies of this fireback are known.