Firebacks

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; top centre, inscription panel.

Notes: One of several firebacks that re-use the memorial inscription to 'Ane Forster' (Anne Foster) of Crowhurst, Surrey. Formerly in the John H. Every collection, for which it was purchased in 1921 in Broadway, Worcs., having allegedly come from Billingshurst, Sussex.

Inscription: HER:LIETH:ANE:FORST / R:DAVGHTER:AND: / HEYR:TO:THOMAS: / GAYNSFORD:ESQVIER / DECEASED:XVIII:OF: / IANVARI:1591:LEAVYNG / BEHIND:HER:II:SONES: / AND:V:DAVGHTERS

Description: Rectangular; carved moulding edging; centre, inscription panel; undulating vine strip stamp repeated thirteen times to form an inner border along each side of the inscription panel.

Notes: The only fireback of the Anne Forster series to have edging formed from wooden moulding probably from dismantled furniture or panelling. Given to the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1850 by Sir Henry Shiffner Bt., of Coombe Place, Hamsey, Sussex. A former occupant of his burnt-out estate cottage, where it had been found, was said to have been a Miss Forster.

Inscription: HER:LIETH:ANE:FORST / R:DAVGHTER:AND: / HEYR:TO:THOMAS: / GAYNSFORD:ESQVIER / DECEASED:XVIII:OF: / IANVARI:1591:LEAVYNG / BEHIND:HER:II:SONES: / AND:V:DAVGHTERS

Description: Canted rectangle; plain plate with two rows of fleurs de lys, eight in the top row, three off set above the other five, and five in a single row along the bottom.

Notes: The fleurs-de-lys are the same as are seen on firebacks thought to have been cast at Pounsley.

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); fleur de lys arranged in a pattern of 20, in three rows: 7-6-7.

Notes: A type of fleur-de-lys used on firebacks possibly cast at Pounsley Furnace.

Description: Sub-rectangular fragment; undulating vine tendril strip repeated twice vertically from left edge with a bird stamp (probably a swan, a Lancastrian badge) repeated three times between, interspersed with a grape cluster stamp repeated seven times; vine tendril stamp repeated twice horizontally at right angles to rightmost vertical strip, three bird stamps between strips and two above, interspersed with seven grape cluster stamps.

Notes: This fragment incorporates common elements from a large series of firebacks.

Description: Rectangular with central triangular arch; twisted rope edging (top and sides); in arch, on top, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys above a rose and crown with dragon and lion supporters above two crowned shields each bearing a small fleur-de-lys; text across top half, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys ending the first and third lines, the top two lines split by the crowned shields, each word separated by two opposed fleurs; below the text, four crowned shields each with a fleur-de-lys, the date between the middle two; bottom left, ‘I’; bottom right, ‘A’.

Notes: The inscription can be interpreted as Thomas Anstie alias Field and Denise his wife (etc.), the surname Anstie alias Field being known in the 16th century in central Sussex. A Thomas Anstye married Denys Joyner at Wivelsfield, Sussex on 5th June 1564; illustrated in Lower, 1849 p. 189 with some errors in copying; formerly at 'Misfield' (Miswell), Worth, Sussex. One of a small series of distinctive firebacks cast in 1582, most with inscriptions dedicated to pairs of individuals; the initials IA may be of the founder as they appear in the same arrangement on the other firebacks.

Inscription: THOMAS VNSTE / ALIS : FILD AND DINIS / HIS : WIF: ANO : DOMINO: / 1582 / I A

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); stamp formed of a bordered strip with an undulating vine with grapes and leaves, repeated six times in three horizontal rows of two; below, a short piece of the same strip positioned vertically and repeated twelve times.

Notes: The vine strip features on many firebacks indicating a common source. Illustration from Lloyd, 1925.

Description: Quasi-rectangular; edging formed of repeated bordered strip with undulating vine with fruit and leaves; horizontal line of two uneavenly repeated vine strips dividing the plate into two compartments, the upper comprising a grape bunch repeated eighteen times, the lower comprising a bird (probably a swan, a Lancastrian badge), its head turned to its left and one visible wing displayed and inverted, repeated five times with a grape bunch repeated twelve times at the ends and between each swan on the top and bottom of the compartment.

Notes: The vine strip, swan and grape bunch stamps feature on many firebacks indicating a common source. Illustration from Lloyd, 1925.

Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); in arch; rose and crown with dragon and lion supporters, above a fleur cross and a crowned shield bearing a small fleur-de-lys; text across top half, each word separated by two fleur terminals; lower left and right, twice repeated eight-pointed star design formed of twisted rope with fleur-de-lys terminals; bottom left, ‘I’; bottom right, ‘A’.

Notes: A James Hide married Joan Blackefane at Horley, Surrey on 11th October 1579; illustrated in Lower, 1849 p. 217, when it was at Sutton Hurst, Barcombe, Sussex (still there in 1893, house since demolished). One of a series of distinctive firebacks cast in 1582, most with inscriptions dedicated to pairs of individuals; the initials IA may be of the founder as they appear in the same arrangement on other firebacks.

Inscription: THES : IS FOR IAMES : / HIDE : AND : ION : HIS : WIF [W inverted] / 1582 / I A

Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); 'concentric' arrangement of 29 'grape bunch' stamps inside the rope edging, a further six inside them horizontally at the top; within those, five lengths of an undulating vine strip angled approximately to fit the curved shape; within them, 24 'grape bunch' stamps, with a single vine strip inside them horizontally at the top and a further line of seven 'grape bunch' stamps horizontally below that; below them, another vine strip horizontally; below that four vine strips placed vertically interspersed with three columns of five 'grape bunch' stamps.

Notes: Both the vine strips and the 'grape bunch' stamps are seen on other firebacks in the same series; the complexity of this arrangement of stamps is paralleled on a fireback recorded at Grayswood, Surrey (no. 72). Mallams auction, Oxford, 22 Feb 2023 lot 94 (£200).