Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging with a wider fillet within upon which are regularly-spaced beads each set on disc and joined by a thin line; shield, Garter, helm, mantling, crown and lion crest, with crowned lion and unicorn supporters; metal strapping around main rectangle.

Notes: A damaged example with unusual supporting bands. Formerly at Brede Place, East Sussex.

Inscription: HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Arched rectangular central panel; fillet edging; pictorial scene of a phoenix rising from a fire; above right, a human mask at the centre of a sunburst; arched rectangular border with fillet edging, the date between initials along the bottom; down each side, a floral festoon hanging from a ring; over the arch, the inscription; on top, floral scrolls.

Notes: The inscription translates as 'out of death, immortality'; the initials NL are likely to be those of the pattern maker. Skinner's, Marlborough, Massachusetts, auction 14 Aug 2016 lot 226.

Inscription: EX MORTE IMMORTALITAS / N 1696 L

Description: Fragment, left side missing; arched rectangular shape; fillet edging (top and sides visible); initials IG widely spaced in arch.

Notes: Previously at Bream Court Farm, Newland, Gloucestershire.

Inscription: I G

Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape; fillet edging, indented on the inner edge; pictorial representation of a phoenix rising from flames, date split either side of its neck; the lateral edges are wide in relation to the top, from which the arch rises from two loop and is surmounted by a fleur-de-lys; above each shoulder of the plate, a roundel.

Notes: The looped fillet edging is rarely seen and does not seem to be diagnostic of a particular pattern-maker.

Inscription: 16 77

Description: Rectangular; fillet edging (top and sides only); top centre, date formed of individual letter stamps; below date, initials carved as single stamp, overstamped and showing v-shaped extension below.

Notes: The reason for the unusual shape of the base of the initial stamp is not understood.

Inscription: 1616 / WC

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with nutshell edging on a broad fillet; pictorial scene of a standing, winged male figure draped with a cloth, holding a staff in his left hand, above a ground, and with drapery over; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; alternating acanthus leaves with swirled tendrils; on top, two mirrored sea serpents.

Notes: Presumably intended to represent an angel; similarities in the design and execution of the pattern suggest the work of the pattern-maker identified as ‘N’ (q.v.); the missing segment had been filled with a piece from another fireback (removed in this photo).

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with nutshell edging on a broad fillet; pictorial scene of a figure in a chariot drawn by birds, above a ground, and with clouds over; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; alternating acanthus leaves with swirled tendrils; on top, two mirrored sea serpents.

Notes: Similarities in the design and execution of the pattern suggest the work of the pattern-maker identified as ‘N’.

Description: Canted rectangle; fillet edging (top and sides); top centre, initials, above date, between repeated fleur-de-lys stamp; from top corners to bottom corners, repeated V-shape pattern formed of stamped short fillets, with an L-shape inserted between the top two Vs on each side.

Notes: The fleurs de lys are of a distinctive style seen on a small group of firebacks.

Inscription: RH / 1662

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with canted, concave top corners and bead edging; naked, crowned figure of Neptune holding a trident in his right hand, standing amid waves and with two hippocampi to his right; same-shaped border with fillet edging and suspended ribbons with floral bunches; at base, symmetrical reeds tied with ribbon; base panel with nine linked rings; symmetrical serpents on top.

Notes: Other firebacks have the same distinctive central panel and border shape, suggesting the same pattern maker.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with helical ribbon edging; pictorial image of a partially clothed female figure, holding an upraised wreath in her left hand and a garland in her right hand, standing on a ground, with a gadrooned vase containing flowers and leaves to the right and, above, swagged drapery; arched rectangular fillet border with descending leaves and flowers suspended from a wreath, top centre, and a wreath in each top corner; on top, mirrored swirled fronds terminating in the heads of sea monsters; bottom, vestiges of SHR monogram otherwise all decoration obliterated by fire damage.

Notes: The figure is an allegorical representation of Agriculture, one of the Iconologia originally published by Cesare Ripa in 1613.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: SHR