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995
Description: Arched; fillet edging; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, supporters, 'CS' monogram to left of Garter buckle, and motto on a cartouche; small rose stamp repeated each side of crown; date split each side of top of crown (first part absent in this casting).
Notes: Although English arms, the design is in a continental style, arched firebacks being typical of Lorraine; the 'CS' monogram is likely to be that of the pattern-maker; a modern copy of a poor casting, hence the incomplete date. For the complete version see no. 994.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: [16 missing] 21 / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / CS / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal (James I)
- Decoration tags:
- rounded arched (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- monogram
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1621 in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Jacobean royal armorial firebacks
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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157
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with paternost bead edging; figure holding a bow in his left hand and a lyre in his right hand, a quiver suspended from his belt, on an undulating ground with small trees, and suspended swags of drapery above; Arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, and symmetrical flowers and swirled tendrils; initials at bottom centre; on top, symmetrical pattern of swirled leaves and tendrils.
Notes: The figure is Apollo, personifying the Sun, one of a set of 'Eight Deities' engraved by Hendrick Goltzius (1592), after Polidoro da Caravaggio; the fireback is one of a large group bearing the same initials, which probably denotes the pattern maker. Other groups may have been the work of the same carver or workshop. The execution is rather crude. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: SHR
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- mythological
- monogram
- text
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.73 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- SHR series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
- Eight Deities series
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842
Description: Arched shape; cavetto-moulded edging invected on the inner edge; Tudor rose surmounted by a royal crown; monogram in bottom right corner.
Notes: The monogram, RN, is associated with the invected cavetto moulding; a recasting, replicating an earlier crack.
Inscription: RN
- Decoration tags:
- rounded arched (shape)
- scalloped cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- monogram
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in England.
Current location: English Heritage Store, Atcham Business Park, Atcham, Shropshire, England.
Museum number: EH ASC 4490 (part of the English Heritage museum group)
- Attached to series:
- RN series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
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1229
Description: Rectangular with canted top corners; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, date formed from a single stamp, over-pressed; monogram below date.
Notes: Dates formed from a single stamp are uncommon, this series being distinguished by this practice. Formerly at a house in Rochester. Bentley Auctioneers, Cranbrook, lot 889, 4 Jun 2022 (£130).
Inscription: 1630 / HPE
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- date stamp
- monogram
- text
Manufactured: in 1630 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- 1630s HPE series
- Date & initials firebacks
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212
Description: Arched rectangular central panel, bead edging, female figure, her right arm raised, sitting on a bull; arched rectangular border, fillet edging, swags of fruit bunches suspended from ribbon, inscription below central panel; on top, symmetrical floral swirls and flowers; plain panel at bottom.
Notes: The image is of Europa being carried away to Crete by Zeus disguised as a bull.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 NDW 97
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- monogram
- text
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in 1697 in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HA105015 (part of the Brighton Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' NDW series
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999
Description: Arched rectangular shape with cyma recta shoulders; astragal edging (top and sides); top centred, date split by a mirrored 'TC' monogram.
Notes: A bold, simple design, its dimensions reflecting the reduced size of fireplaces in the period.
Inscription: 16 TCTC 93
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners and round arch (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- monogram
- text
Manufactured: in 1693 in England.
Current location: Ashmolean Museum Broadway, 65 High Street , Broadway, Worcestershire, England.
(part of the Ashmolean Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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222
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with ‘nutshell’ edging on a broad fillet; crowned figure, holding a sceptre in his right hand, sitting in a chariot drawn to the left by two horses with ostrich feather head-dresses; the whole upon a causeway with pilasters and masonry, and waves beneath; a heron flying to the left; above, swagged drapery with two tassels hanging from the centre; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical, flower bunches, descending from a ribbon loop; monogram centre bottom, between plant tendrils; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils.
Notes: The design is derived from a personification of Europe, one of a set of playing cards entitled 'Jeu de la Géographie', designed by Stefano della Bella (1677); a similarity with Queen Anne may not be coincidental; the flying heron has been copied from a print by Wenceslaus Hollar c.1658.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: SHR
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- monogram
- text
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: Canons Ashby House, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England.
Museum number: NT/L/CAN/M/79 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- SHR series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
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234
Description: Arched rectangular shaped; cavetto moulded edging, scalloped top and sides; Prince of Wales’ badge of three ostrich feathers emerging through a coronet; symmetrical scroll with elaborate swirls, bearing motto; monogrammed initials at bottom, left of centre.
Notes: The scalloped edging and RN monogram have been noted on other firebacks, suggesting a common pattern maker. Formerly from Burwash, Sussex.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: ICH DIEN / RN
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- scalloped cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- monogram
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in England.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: 20.177/1 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- RN series
- Prince of Wales firebacks
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874
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with ovolo linking curves and eyelet astragal edging; pictorial scene of Delilah, seated above a pavement, supervising the cutting of Samson's hair by a barber, a putto to the left and a small figure lower right; drapery above; arched rectangular border with ovolo linking curves and fillet edging; symmetrical pattern of plant tendrils with leaves and seed pods; at bottom, monogram 'EB' in a cartouche between symmetrical leaves and ears of wheat; on top, two mirrored sea serpents.
Notes: One of a small series of firebacks identified by the EB monogram; the pictorial scene is of Delilah and the sleeping Samson with a Philistine cutting his hair; the scene may be based on an engraving by the Dutch artist Philip Galle (1537-1612) after a painting by Maerten van Heemskerck.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: EB
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: Chastleton House, Chastleton, Oxfordshire, England.
Museum number: 1430205 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- EB series
- Old Testament & Apocrypha firebacks
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
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257
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with ‘nutshell’ edging on a broad fillet; crowned figure, holding a sceptre in his right hand, sitting in a chariot drawn to the left by two horses with ostrich feather head-dresses; the whole upon a causeway with pilasters and masonry, and waves beneath; a heron flying to the left; above, swagged drapery with two tassels hanging from the centre; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical, flower bunches, descending from a ribbon loop; monogram centre bottom, between plant tendrils; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils.
Notes: The design is derived from a personification of Europe, one of a set of playing cards entitled 'Jeu de la Géographie', designed by Stefano della Bella (1677); a similarity with Queen Anne may not be coincidental; the flying heron has been copied from a print by Wenceslaus Hollar c.1658.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: SHR
Manufactured: in the late-17th to early-18th century in England.
Current location: Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- SHR series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks