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993
Description: Arched rectangular shaped; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); central stamp of a carved bracket figure of a bearded man in a loincloth and cap; rhyme in capitals across rectangular plate, letters carved on strips, split by figure.
Notes: The twin miseries of a smoky house and a scolding wife are mentioned several times in literature. The dress of the figure suggests work as a miner, possibly linking this back with the Forest of Dean. Variants with initials and dates are also known.
Inscription: FROM ·A·-·SMOKY ·LIFE·/ AND·A SCOVL DING·WIFE·/ALL MEN THAT-DOE·ME·SE/ TAKE·PETIE- AND·DELIVER ME
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
Museum number: 222507 (part of the National Trust museum group)
Citation: Chambers, L. H., 26 Sep 1912, 'Fireback: Relic of 1660', Notes and Queries, 11th series, 6, p. 230.
- Attached to series:
- Twin miseries series
- Figurine firebacks
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1070
? x ? mmDescription: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging; two fleurs-de-lys arranged vertically top left and top right; top centre, date; below date, initials WEI in triad.
Notes: Said to have been made by George White, iron founder, of Monmouth. Formerly from Newport, Monmouthshire.
Inscription: 1668 / W E I [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1668 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: 25.21 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
Citation: Kissack, K., 2003, Monmouth and its Buildings (Almeley, Logaston Press).
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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950
Description: Rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date top centre.
Notes: The style of the numerals is identical to those seen on another fireback, indicating a common source.
Inscription: 1658
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Horsted Keynes, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date only firebacks
- 1640-50s Dean series
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337
Description: Arched rectangular shaped; ovolo moulded edging (top and sides); central stamp of a carved bracket figure of a bearded man in a loincloth and cap; date and monogram in arch, split by figure, ‘T’ elevated; rhyme in capitals across centre, letters carved on strips, split by figure; date and initials as individual stamps.
Notes: The twin miseries of a smoky house and a scolding wife are mentioned several times in literature. The dress of the figure suggests work as a miner, possibly linking this back with the Forest of Dean. Variants exist without date or initials, or with other dates. A version of this fireback with the date 1660, instead of 1658, was noted at Bellamy's Farm, Longney, Gloucestershire in 1912 (Notes and Queries, 11th ser., 6 (Sep 1912), p.230.).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1658 LTB; ·FROM ·A·-·SMOKY ·LIFE·/ AND·A SCOVL DING·WIFE·/ALL MEN THAT-DOE·ME·SE/ TAKE·PETIE- AND·DELIVER ME
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in 1658 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Huddington, Worcestershire, England.
Citation: Chambers, L. H., 26 Sep 1912, 'Fireback: Relic of 1660', Notes and Queries, 11th series, 6, p. 230.
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1074
Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.
Notes: A tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.
Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- arched (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1648 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- 1640-50s Dean series
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1072
Description: Rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date top centre; initials split below date.
Notes: The initials are believed to relate to Thomas Hughes (1604-64), MP and Governor of Chepstow Castle, who lived at Moynes Court, Mathern; a slightly larger variant of the same date but without initials has been noted; the right edge is concealed behind stonework.
Inscription: 1658 / T H
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- 1640-50s Dean series
-
1073
Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.
Notes: An unusually tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.
Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- arched (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1648 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- 1640-50s Dean series
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682
Description: Rectangular, with detached pediment joined by mirrored S-shaped scrolls; fillet edging with scalloping on inside edge (top and sides of rectangle, and pediment, only); central Tudor rose with surrounding garter, crowned lion and dragon supporters, surmounted by a helmet, mantling and crowned lion passant crest; initials, ER, separated by crest; initials, TP, in top corners of rectangle; ‘date’ split between bottom corners.
Notes: Stylistically of the late 16th or very early 17th centuries, the date is absent from some versions, and is likely to have been added spuriously to later recastings, of which this is one, the style of the numerals being identical to a series of firebacks cast in 1648-58.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: E R / T P / 1558
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with detached pediment (shape)
- scalloped fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid 17th century possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Sedlescombe, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- 1640-50s Dean series
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1136
Description: Fragment; rectangular; twisted rope edging; top centre, date [1]647; top right, initials FAB in triad, A below F and B.
Notes: The initials were probably mirrored on the left side. Acquired from a location at Tintern, Monmouthshire. A fireback of near identical design and provenance was noted by David Bick at Poolway House, Coleford, Gloucestershire (Gloucs. Archives D9104).
Inscription: 647 FAB [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1647 probably at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: National Museum Wales, National Collections Centre, Heol Crochendy, Parc Nantgarw, Nantgarw, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: 73.25I (part of the National Museum Wales museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks