Firebacks

558mm tall

  1. 590

    richmond,_ham house 02.jpg
    685 x 558 mm

    Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape, semi-circular protrusions on top corners; cavetto-moulded edging; two mirrored scrolls inside arch; a phoenix in flames, its wings displayed and inverted.

    Notes: A variant (no. 895) bears the date, 1650, and the initials, IM; a loop normally at the top is absent, and careless pouring of the iron has obliterated some of the detail down the right side of the casting.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid-17th century possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Ham House, Richmond, Surrey, England.

    Museum number: 1139821 (part of the National Trust museum group)

  2. 648

    rochester_05.jpg
    368 x 558 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with arch and bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial representation of a popinjay, or parrot, perched on a ring suspended by a ribbon from a bow, the bird is clutching an olive twig, other sprigs are below; arched rectangular border with arch and fillet edging; mirrored festoons of flowers and fruit suspended from roses, scrolled foliage at the bottom; on top, central scallop shell between descending dolphins.

    Notes: The parrot on the ring perch is a popular design on Dutch firebacks.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.

    Museum number: A3491 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)

  3. 1094

    smallhythe_place 02.jpg
    1143 x 558 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, crowned Tudor royal shield between a lion passant on the right and a lion passant guardant sinister on the left; in each top corner a crowned four-petal rose, below which, to the right, a left-facing 'imp' with both arms lowered; below the armorial, a crowned shield bearing initials, KH, in Lombardic lettering, above a fleur-de-lys; a much-corroded imp figure may be below the right-hand lion.

    Notes: A heavily corroded variant of a type bearing Henrician heraldic elements.

    Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

    Manufactured: in the mid-16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Smallhythe Place, Small Hythe Road, Tenterden, Kent, England.

    Museum number: 1117950 (part of the National Trust museum group)