-
1065
Description: Rectangular; no edging; rough background with 'incised' inscription across top in archaic lettering; central crowned male figure, in Saxon costume, standing astride and facing right, holding a battleaxe to his right in both hands; behind him to the right, a figure wearing a Norman-style helmet with nasal guard, advancing, with a shield, and a sword in his right hand; behind the central figure and to his right, a fallen figure with a circular shield covering him; below, the face of another fallen figure, also wearing a Norman helmet.
Notes: A dramatic pictorial fireback commemorating the Battle of Hastings. The pattern may have been made of a sculpted medium, such as clay.
Inscription: HAROLD REX
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- text
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the 20th century in England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, Salehurst, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Commemorative firebacks
-
682
Description: Rectangular, with detached pediment joined by mirrored S-shaped scrolls; fillet edging with scalloping on inside edge (top and sides of rectangle, and pediment, only); central Tudor rose with surrounding garter, crowned lion and dragon supporters, surmounted by a helmet, mantling and crowned lion passant crest; initials, ER, separated by crest; initials, TP, in top corners of rectangle; ‘date’ split between bottom corners.
Notes: Stylistically of the late 16th or very early 17th centuries, the date is absent from some versions, and is likely to have been added spuriously to later recastings, of which this is one, the style of the numerals being identical to a series of firebacks cast in 1648-58.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: E R / T P / 1558
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with detached pediment (shape)
- scalloped fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid-17th century possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Sedlescombe, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- 1640-50s Dean series
-
51
Description: Arched rectangular shaped, topped with a triangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides only); inverted Tudor royal shield and Garter, crown above, greyhound and lion supporters (see example at Alfriston Clergy House). Two horizontal planklines.
Notes: A uniquely shaped fireback, the inverted shield and Garter indicate that they formed a separate stamp from the crown; other firebacks with these stamps have the shield and Garter the correct way round. A frequently copied fireback; a larger version has a bottom extension.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: HONE SOVT QUEY MAL Y PENSE
Arms: Tudor royal (prob.Henry VIII)
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch and triangle above (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- planklines
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-16th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Courtlands, Taunton, Somerset, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
-
1119
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with 'nutshell' over fillet edging; pictorial image of a partially clothed female figure, holding an upraised wreath in her left hand, standing on a ground, with a gadrooned vase containing flowers and leaves to the right, and above swagged drapery and sun rays; arched rectangular fillet border with descending leaves and flowers suspended from a wreath, top centre, and a wreath in each top corner; on top, mirrored sea monsters; bottom centre, initial N in a cartouche between swirling fronds.
Notes: The figure is an allegorical representation of Agriculture, one of the Iconologia originally published by Cesare Ripa in 1613.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: N
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- allegorical
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- N series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
- Agriculture firebacks
-
762
Description: Rectangular; astragal and fillet edging; oval shield of the Paulet family (sable three swords, points conjoined in pile), within a cartouche, surmounted by a marquis’s coronet; date split between bottom corners.
Notes: The arms of Charles Paulet, 6th Marquess of Winchester, who succeeded to the title in 1674 and was created Duke of Bolton in 1689. The fireback is reported to have come from Grange Farm, Basing House, Hampshire; Basing House was the seat of the Paulets.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 87
Arms: Charles Paulet, 6th Marquess of Winchester
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- astragal & fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1687 possibly at Sowley Furnace, Beaulieu in England.
Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington & Chelsea, Greater London, England.
Museum number: M.103-1913 (part of the Victoria & Albert Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Paulet firebacks