Firebacks

Description: Central panel of arched rectangular shape with cavetto canted corners and bead edging; crowned female figure holding a sceptre in her right hand, seated in a chariot drawn by two caparisoned ponies, a cornucopia at their feet; below, sloping ground with plants, clouds with rain above; identically shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical swags of flowers and drapery suspended from ribbons; at the base two symmetrical palm fronds tied with a ribbon.

Notes: The figure may represent Ceres, goddess of plenty. The fireback is one of a series designed and made in England, copying the prevailing 'Dutch' style. Its style echoes that of a fireback pattern preserved at Rottingdean Grange, Sussex. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead edging, two children sitting astride a beast (possibly a winged ram); arched rectangular shaped border, fillet edging, swags of fruit bunches suspended from ribbon; on top, symmetrical floral swirls and flowers.

Notes: The image is probably intended to be Phryxus and Helle riding the winged ram with the golden fleece, but in recasting it has been misinterpreted as the young Samson slaying the lion at Timnath; Judges 14: 5-6. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: 16 NDW 97 / DER IUNGE SAMSON [the young Samson]

Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top left, date 1622; top right, initials T H.

Notes: The surface excrescences on the lower half of the fireback are likely to have resulted from the displacement of the casting sand by the pouring of the iron. Formerly at Marden Hill House, Tewin, Hertfordshire. There is no basis for the suggestion by Hertford Museum that this fireback might have been cast by a Thomas Hogge.

Inscription: 1622 T H

Description: Rectangular; plain edge; top centre, ring between repeated lion's head between repeated narrow human figure with folded arms standing on a bracket; below each figure, a small bracket.

Notes: The figures are indistinct and are disproportionately small for the size of the firebacks; from Isfield Place 1921.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; suspended from the top, by a ribbon, a ring with a popinjay, or parrot, perched thereon, biting a twig in its right claw; below left is a seated child; around this panel is an arched rectangular border with fillet edging containing floral swags hung on ribbons suspended from rings; on top, two serpents.

Notes: A common design among firebacks produced in Germany for the Dutch market. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead on fillet edging, narrow-necked urn with flowers issuing therefrom; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical floral festoons; on top, stylised fish with floral accessories; at bottom, two looped 'W' figures between date split between bottom corners.

Notes: The smallest of six flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The small size of this fireback makes it likely that it was intended to be fixed to the back of a grate.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: 17 24

Description: Low-arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); top centre, shield, crest and motto of William Wood (1806-88), Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway.

Notes: The blazon: Per chevron Argent and Or, a chevron counter-embattled between three mullets gules; crest: a talbot's head erased Or; motto: Semper Vigilans - Always Vigilant.

Inscription: SEMPER VIGILANS

Arms: William Wilson, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date (in two parts) split across upper part of plate.

Notes: A recasting

Inscription: 17 25

Description: Arched rectangular shape with small rhomboidal flanges in the corners of the arch; cavetto moulded edge on all sides, with a rose stamp on each curved enlargement of the moulding in the top corners; Stuart royal arms (1605-88, 1702-14) with lion and unicorn supporters, garter, crown and motto.

Notes: A recasting. A casting of the same fireback is in the collection of the Sussex Archaeological Society, but with the addition of a person's name impressed from the broken handle of a skillet (no. 405).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: [Garter and royal mottoes]

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Rectangular shape; wide fillet and ogee-moulded edging; approximately top centre, initials RH, with date 1701 centred below.

Notes: A heavy casting, approx. 3cm thick; the character set for the initials and date lacks uniformity, some carved crudely, others more carefully; three horizontal planklines. The lettering differs from another fireback (see no. 1282), with the same initials and date, by the position and shape of the letter 'R'. Formerly in a house at Netherfield, East Sussex. The former location in the Netherfield area of these two firebacks suggests a possible association with Richard Hay, owner of land in that area at that time and ironmaster at Beech Furnace nearby.

Inscription: RH / 1701