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18
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; otherwise plain plate with inscription panel centre top.
Notes: Inscription panel identical to that on the memorial plate to Anne Forster in Crowhurst church, Surrey. At least ten other firebacks are known with the same inscription panel.
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved pattern panels
- planklines
- text
Manufactured: in the late 16th century possibly at Pounsley furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: The Six Bells Inn, High Street, Billingshurst, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- Anne Forster series
- Epitaph firebacks
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852
Description: Rectangular; cyma recta (ogee) moulded edging (top and sides); fleur-de-lys stamp repeated three times across the upper part of the plate; a long pastry mould stamped between each pair of fleurs; above the central fleur, a small stamp, over-pressed, bearing FL below a coronet; above the right fleur, a small stamp, over-pressed, bearing a fish embowed.
Notes: The food moulds are variations of others used in the same series.
Inscription: FL
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cyma reversa/ogee (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century possibly at Pounsley furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Food mould stamp firebacks
- Pounsley series
- Fleur-de-lys stamp types
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244
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); stamp of three ostrich feathers within a coronet, between the two parts of the date, with lion and unicorn supporters outside date.
Notes: The ostrich feathers are the badge of the Prince of Wales. There is no known significance of the year 1629 with that title, the birth of the prince (later Charles II) being in the following year. The date was probably added to a recasting of the plate. The lack of detail in the modelling indicates this has been recast several times.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 29
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in 1629 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Chailey, East Sussex, England.
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- Prince of Wales' feathers series
- Prince of Wales firebacks
-
49
Description: Rectangular with cavetto curves rising to corners and a ‘portico’ top; fillet edging with bas-relief, alternate regularly spaced semi-circles and triangles inside; two-handled flower vase with acanthus bas-relief, trailing vines issuing from top, with pomegranate and hop(?), descending through handles to base; lion’s head at top; date split either side of vase base.
Notes: The bas-relief edging also appears on other firebacks, suggesting the same pattern maker. The date was probably added separately.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1662
- Decoration tags:
- cavetto-canted rectangular with triangular arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- pictorial
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1662 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Dallington, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
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871
Description: Canted rectanular shape, with stepped fillet edging (top and sides); upper centre, horizontal ?leather twist above an inverted ?leather twist 'V'; on each side, a shield-shaped stamp repeated twice, the upper one of each being angled so its side is parallel to the canted edging.
Notes: The design on the shield is not recognisably heraldic in form, and appears to incorporate a possible pictorial element although this is not clear; the inverted 'V' shape may have apotropaic significance.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- stepped fillet (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 16th century in England.
Current location: in private hands, East Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
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386
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging on top and sides; date placed centrally near top.
Inscription: 1679
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1679 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.910 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Date only firebacks
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389
Description: Arched rectangular shape; plain edge with inset astragal on all sides; stylised buckle surmounted by an earl’s coronet between the two halves of the date.
Notes: The buckle is the badge of the Pelham family and the earl’s coronet may refer to the Earldom of Clare to which Thomas Pelham-Holles, 2nd Baron Pelham of Laughton was raised in 1714. The following year he was created Marquess of Clare and Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Inscription: 17 15
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- flanged (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1715 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.084 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Pelham family firebacks
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434
Description: Damaged; rectangle, flanged edging; two vertical panels, each with a row of lancet arches along the top: on right, robed figure with a crown, head tilted to left, left hand raised in benediction, right hand holding a chalice, standing on a bracket; on right, similar figure facing forward.
Notes: Stoveplate. Similar plates suggest these may be two of the Magi.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- flanged (edging)
- simple stamps
- architectural
- humans
Manufactured: in the early 16th century in the Eifel area of Germany.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.795 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Stoveplates
- Figurine firebacks
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945
Description: Rectangular with two-stepped top; twisted rope edging (top and sides) formed of short rope sections, with top vertical sections extending down beyond the join with the next horizontal section; top centre, stamp formed of a talbot statant guardant upon a wreath; date separated by crest stamp; initials below and separated by date.
Notes: The talbot crest has been seen on other firebacks indicating a common source.
Inscription: 16 21 / R T
- Decoration tags:
- stepped (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1621 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Lindfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Talbot crest series
- Stepped firebacks
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488
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; fillet edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a cartouche; above, an English crown.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625. Said to have been cast by Thomas Prickett (1727-95) at Gloucester Furnace, Lamberhurst.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: France modern
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century probably at Lamberhurst furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Michelham Priory, Arlington, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.068 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks