-
897
Description: Steeply canted rectangle; no edging; upper centre, square formed of twisted rope lengths inside which are what appear to be two lions passant in pale with a circle and two short sloping lines in inverted V form above; on either side of the square is an O and an R; below the square three lengths of twisted rope extend to the bottom edge, the central one vertically and the the outer two sloping away from the centre; along the bottom is the date, each numeral separated by one of the rope lengths.
Notes: Alleged to be a representation of the arms of the O'Rourke family, who held sway in Cavan and Leitrim, the initials said to be of Owen O'Rourke. Noted in a cottage at Arigna, County Roscommon.
Inscription: O O R / 1 6 8 8
Arms: O'Rourke
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1688 possibly at Drumshanbo Furnace in the Leitrim area of Ireland.
Current location:.
Citation: Lindsay, J. S., 1927, Iron & Brass Implements of the English House (London, The Medici Society).
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
-
204
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); Tudor royal shield and Garter with crown above, between lion and unicorn supporters; initials separated by crown; a small ring and bar are placed to the left of the unicorn’s mouth.
Notes: The Tudor shield and crown feature on many Wealden firebacks, and have here been reused with Jacobean supporters; their stamps are derived from standing models.
Inscription: I R
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early 17th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: St Mary's Abbey, Blanchland, Northumberland, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- Jacobean royal armorial firebacks
-
114
Description: Quasi-rectangular shape with low-curved convex top; edging (top and sides)formed of lengths of dowel grooved laterally and helically; upper centre, cross formed of the same dowel; at each side, tandem arrangement of longer dowel, similarly grooved.
Notes: The base board appears to be the same size and shape as that of a fireback at Plaxtol, Kent, which also has the same edging; and the grooved dowels are also on a fireback with dagger stamps at Lewes; the cross will have had may have apotropaic significance. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-rectangular (shape)
- grooved dowel (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HASMG: 1952.51.21 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Grooved dowel series
-
152
Description: Rectangular; plain plate; rectangular panel of diagonal concentric square diaper, repeated twice along base and once on end between; top row of three alternating hexagonal stamps and four double crosses flory; middle row of ?six double crosses flory with a central rose; bottom row of four hexagons.
Notes: A crude and poorly executed casting.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- carved stamps
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HASMG: 1911.60.8 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
Citation: Butterfield, W. R., 1916, 'Old Wealden Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 46, pp. 197-209.
- Attached to series:
- Food mould stamp firebacks
-
1236
Description: Rectangular; ogee moulding on top and side edges; symmetrical layout of date and initials; date split between left and right sides, initials in middle.
Notes: One of a series of backs dating to the 1730s and 40s using very similar sets of letters and numerals. Formerly at Yeomans, Mayfield, Sussex.
Inscription: 17 / WH / 34
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cyma reversa/ogee (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1734 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, New Jersey, United States of America.
- Attached to series:
- 1730s-40s, date & initial series
- Date & initials firebacks