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1122
Description: Plain rectangular plate with cyma reversa, or ogee, moulding on top and sides.
Notes: A base board without other decoration. Other firebacks may have been cast using it.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cyma reversa/ogee (edging)
- carved pattern panels
Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.
Current location: 10 Garden Street, Accrington, Lancashire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Base boards
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1087
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; central fouled anchor within a Garter surmounted by a ducal coronet; fructal swags to each side.
Notes: The anchor may relate to the office of Lord High Admiral who, in the third quarter of the 17th century was James, Duke of York (afterwards King James II). Another example was sold at Christie's auction 12 Oct 2010 lot 109 (£500). A variant with a viscount's coronet is at Chastleton House, Oxfordshire.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.
Current location: Bramshill House, Bramshill, Hampshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
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243
Description: Upon a rectangular base plinth, wide scrolled side fillets with foliage about the scrolls and suspended bell flowers in chain above; central cartouche behind an oval shield bearing three fleurs-de-lys surmounted by a French royal crown; on top, an arch rising from horizontal moulding on each side.
Notes: Characteristic of designs illustrated by architects such as Daniel Marot.
Arms: French royal
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in France.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Carpentier, H., 1912, Plaques de Cheminées (Paris & Florange, published by the author).
- Attached to series:
- Foreign armorial firebacks
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246
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape; on a ground, an armorial achievement comprising a central cartouche on which is an oval shield bearing the arms of the Cavendish family, with graduated bead edging; supporters, two stags rampant; above the cartouche, on a wreath a coiled snake crest surmounted by an earl’s coronet; the date split either side of the crest; to each side, a column with foliate capital supporting a three-sided arch with ovolo-moulded edging, on each shoulder of which is a flaming orb.
Notes: The arms are those of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire (1617-84). Sotheby's auction, The Chatsworth Attic Sale, 7 Oct 2010, lot 3 (£18,750).
Inscription: 1657
Arms: William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1657 in England.
Current location:, not known.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Cavendish arms series
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281
Description: This fireback comprises at least four separate elements: the rectangular central panel has an anchor with coiled rope between two fleurs de lys, below which are two roses; the two rectangular side panels each comprise a vertical stem with six grape bunches surmounted by a smaller bunch; above, a semicircular arch contains the initials between two roses as in the central panel, with the date above; where the arch meets the central panel there is an arc across each corner; the top and sides panels are edged with simulated twisted rope.
Notes: A variant of the well-known ‘Armada’ fireback.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1588 / IFC
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- simulated rope (edging)
- carved pattern panels
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1588 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Chequers, Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Armada series
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104
Description: 'Dutch' style; arched rectangular shaped central panel with arch at top; bead edging; female figure with staff and fan in a garden, inscription DER MITAG below figure ; similarly shaped border of Corinthian columns and floral decoration; symmetrical serpents on top.
Notes: The inscription means NOON; identified from a clearer version in the collection of the Haardplatenmuseum, Klarenbeek, Netherlands. The representations in human form of various virtues and vices in Iconologia, by Cesare Ripa, first published in the early 17th century but republished in different editions many times subsequently, formed the basis of the subject matter of several firebacks, mostly cast from continental originals, that became popular in England from the late 17th century.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: DER MITAG
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
(part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
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496
Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo moulded edging; plain panel at bottom; Tudor royal shield, garter, crown, motto and supporters (crowned lion and dragon), temp. Elizabeth I; the top of the lion's crown and the dragon's ear overlap the edging.
Notes: Another version has a rose and portcullis either side of the crown, and the top of the lion's crown and the dragon's ear do not overlap the edging.
Inscription: [Garter] HONI SOIT QVI MAL E PENSE / [motto] DIEV ET MON DROIT.
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Michelham Priory, Arlington, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.999 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
- Tudor royal armorial (plain) series
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903
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date between split initials across upper half of plate; two notches cut away for insertion of firedogs.
Notes: The ‘6s’ appear to have been moulded from a type of jemmy.
Inscription: g 1669 P [reversed]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1669 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: George & Dragon Inn, Speldhurst Hill, Speldhurst, Kent, England.
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714
Description: Canted rectangle; cavetto moulded edging (top and sides); single horizontal fillet below canted corners and vertical fillet parallel to each side, dividing the fireback into two side panels, two top corner panels, top panel and main central panel; corner panels, lion passant stamp, left facing in right corner, right facing in left corner; top panel, date between fleurs-de-lys; side panels, suspended vine stamp repeated each side; centre panel, flower stamp in each top corner.
Notes: The lion stamps and design elements (canted shape, vertical and horizontal divisions) are identical to those on similar firebacks dated to the first decade of the 18th century, and indicate a common source.
Inscription: 1699
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- plants
Manufactured: in 1699 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:, not known.
- Attached to series:
- IB series
- Date only firebacks