-
25
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape with arch decorated with floral swirls and an urn on each shoulder; three female figures: Aphrodite on the left, Hera in the centre on a plinth with two peacocks behind her, and Athena on the right; a double tassel hangs above Hera’s head.
Notes: The figures are the participants in the Judgement of Paris, the outcome of which precipitated the Trojan War.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- humans
Manufactured: in the early 18th century in England.
Current location: Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: NT/BAT/M/55 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Late pictorial series (all)
- Late pictorial series 4
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29
Description: Rectangular; cavetto moulded edging; initials in top left corner; date in top right corner.
Notes: The style of lettering and numerals is reminiscent of those seen on firebacks associated with the Sidneys, Earls of Leicester, and may suggest a common source.
Inscription: IB 1695
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1695 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: NT/BAT/M/204 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
245
Description: Arched rectangular shaped with narrow shoulders; fillet edging; date in individual numerals across arch.
Notes: A larger version is different in the spacing of the numerals and the proportions of the plate. For another casting of this fireback see J. Every Collection catalogue no. 20 (Sussex Archaeological Society library, Barbican House, Lewes, Sussex).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1658
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Lytes Cary Manor, Charleton Mackrell, Somerset, England.
Museum number: NT/LYT/M/40 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1658 arched series
- Date only firebacks
-
70
Description: Arched rectangular shape; simulated twisted rope edging (top & sides); symmetrical arrangement of fleurs de lys (two types - 2 and 1), diamond shapes (2) and cross-cut squares (4) includes the monogram in which the letters I and F are separated by a small, hollow diamond stamp, the M being above; interspersed symmetrical arrangement of raised spots (8).
Notes: The initials, as with other triple-lettered forms, in which the middle letter is set apart from the other two, may relate to a married couple where their surname initial is M. Another example seen has shown that the pattern was formed of five angular, uneven-sized planks battened together.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1613 / M / I F
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- simulated rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- planklines
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1613 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Godalming Museum, Godalming, Surrey, England.
Museum number: B980.400 (part of the Godalming Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Diamond series
-
398
Description: Rectangular; cyma curve and fillet edging; crowned Tudor rose within a pediment resting on Tuscan pilasters and pedestals.
Notes: The rose and crown are more finely modelled than other versions.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cyma curve and fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- architectural
- royal
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.942 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Pedimented rose and crown series
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455
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); a rope saltire in each top corner.
Notes: The edging is made from the same, short lengths of rope as the saltires.
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hall Place, Bexley, Kent, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.049 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
-
1068
Description: Arched shape with forward-facing 'wings', which splay outwards towards the base, curved to follow the shape of the main panel; central panel with stylised tree decoration surmounted with a scallop shell between six 'leaves' (one damaged).
Notes: This small, but unusual, casting was probably cast in an open box mould as the upcast (reverse) side of the casting shows evidence of being sand-treated. Only a very small number of such castings are known. Depth 200mm.
- Decoration tags:
- free-standing (shape)
- none (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- plants
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.
Current location: Norfolk Antique and Reclamation Centre, Woolseys Farm, Salhouse Road, Panxworth, Norfolk, England.
- Attached to series:
- Free-standing firebacks
-
650
Description: Damaged; top missing; arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; with tassel at top; three nude female figures: on top, Juno/Hera with a peacock, to the left Venus/Aphrodite, the young cupid/Eros at her feet, to the right Minerva/Athena with spear and shield; border with fillet edging; two suspended festoons of fruit and leaves; date and monogram in rectangular panel below central panel; rectangular panel at the bottom, with the inscription, PALLAS VND VENVS.
Notes: The three goddesses are those whose beauty was the subject of the Judgement of Paris. The composition is copied from an engraving by Adriaen Collaert (c1560-1618). Examples of this fireback have been recast in England, the opportunity being taken to insert an English inscription in place of the customary date and pattern maker's monogram.
Inscription: 16 NDW 97 / PALLAS VND VENVS
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in 1697 in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3493 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' NDW series
- Judgement of Paris firebacks
-
693
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); a shield repeated five times, each bearing three arrows palewise, points down, with a molet (star) above the middle arrow, two over three.
Notes: Three arrows form the arms of several families, so identification of the arms is not possible without the associated colouring. The star is likely to be a mark of cadency, granted to a third son. Four rivets along the base may relate to earlier repair. The fireback was formerly at Chisenbury Priory, Wiltshire. A variant with three shields (W 740mm x H 480mm) was lot 530 at Brettells auction, Newport, Salop, 1 March 2022.
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- armorial
Manufactured: in the late 16th to early 17th century in England.
Current location: Cothay Manor, Stawley, Somerset, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
-
860
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
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1662 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Checkendon, Oxfordshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Square cross Dean series
- Newent area group