Firebacks

Description: Composite; canted arched rectangular shape; armorial fireback, cavetto edging, with Stuart Royal arms, garter, supporters, crown and motto, and 1620 date above crown; this overlies a canted rectangular plate, with twisted rope edging, fillet; two quasi-horizontal fillets from the tops of the vertical sides to the middle of the armorial fireback separate the back into two uneven parts, the date in the top part, split by the armorial, and a fleur-de-lys at the top of the lower part, also separated by the armorial.

Notes: The use of the armorial back is seen frequently and probably dates from 1619, though the date is usually altered; in this case the alteration does not match the more prominent date for the fireback; photograph ex T. Crowther & Son Ltd, 1985.

Inscription: 16 29 / HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE / 16 37 / DIEV ET MON DROIT

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Rectangular with central triangular arch; twisted rope edging (top and sides); in arch, on top, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys above a rose and crown with dragon and lion supporters above two crowned shields each bearing a small fleur-de-lys; text across top half, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys ending the first and third lines, the top two lines split by the crowned shields, each word separated by two opposed fleurs; below the text, four crowned shields each with a fleur-de-lys, the date between the middle two; lower left, 'I'; lower right, 'A'.

Notes: The inscription can be interpreted as Thomas Anstie alias Field and Denise his wife (etc.), the surname Anstie alias Field being known in the 16th century in central Sussex. A Thomas Anstye married Denys Joyner at Wivelsfield, Sussex on 5th June 1564; illustrated in Lower, 1849 p. 189 with some errors in transcription of the inscription; formerly at 'Misfield' (Miswell), Worth, Sussex. One of a small series of distinctive firebacks cast in 1582, most with inscriptions dedicated to pairs of individuals; the initials IA are likely to be of the founder as they appear in the same arrangement on the other firebacks.

Inscription: THOMAS VNSTE / ALIS : FILD AND DINIS / HIS : WIF: ANO : DOMINO: / 1582 / I A

Description: Fragment; quasi-arched rectangular shape; twisted rope or leather edging; flame on centre arch and on top corners (left missing); initials in triad above central shield with date split either side of centre; the bottom right corner is missing.

Notes: The initials are of Philip Hollins (d. 1724) of Mosslee Hall, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, and his wife Elizabeth Bage whom he married in 1671. Blazon: Argent, a chevron azure, in chief four crosses formee fitchee of the second.

Inscription: PHE [triad] / 16 71

Arms: Hollins, of Mosslee Hall

Description: Arched rectangular central panel, with bead edging; pictorial, two men in 17th century dress, on a ground, carrying a huge bunch of grapes slung from a pole between them, behind are vine leaves; the initials located below the top corners; arched rectangular border, fillet edging, containing vine leaves and grapes; above, symmetrical swirling foliage.

Notes: The scene, drawn from the Old Testament, represents Joshua and Caleb carrying the bunch of grapes from the valley of Eshcol in the land of Canaan, back to Moses and the children of Israel (Numbers 13: 23-4); a small number of firebacks bear the initials, GK; it is not known to whom they refer, but dated examples are of 1700.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: G K

Description: Canted rectangle; fillet edging (top and sides); date to full width across centre of plate.

Notes: Bold, evenly-spaced numerals.

Inscription: 1680