Firebacks

In the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group

103 results

  1. 417

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 051.jpg
    515 x 660 mm

    Description: Rectangular central panel with top arch, bead edging; pictorial scene of a a kneeling man in a wide-brimmed hat reaching up the skirt of a milk maid, who in fending him off, leans forward, tipping the milk from the bucket on her head over the man; acanthus leaves over the top arch; side border with bead edging extending over shoulders of plate, surmounted by a floral vase each side; on top a floral vase between leaves.

    Notes: Inscription on the back of the casting: 'Made from a casting lent to J. H. E[very] by Mr J. T. Ade of Hellingly'.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the early-18th century in England.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.081 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

    Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.

  2. 418

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 052.jpg
    450 x 600 mm

    Description: Cavetto-arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging, head and robed shoulders of a laureated man in left profile; cavetto-arched rectangular border with cavetto-moulded edging and arrangement of outward-facing acanthus leaves; on top, scallops on shoulders of border with cornucopiae over arch.

    Notes: A pastiche of the 'Dutch' style of fireback. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Manufactured: in the early-18th century in England.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.090 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Lower, M. A., 1866, 'The Antiquities preserved in the Museum of Lewes Castle', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 18, pp. 60-73.

  3. 419

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 054.jpg
    530 x 770 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with cavetto-moulded edging; standing female figure holding a bunch of lowers in her left hand and a pot of flowers in her ight hand; to her left a ribbed, two-handled vase of tulips, to her right a fountain with a seated figure of Neptune/Poseidon holding a trident in the right hand; the words, Fruhling, split by the figure; above, clouds; on top a scallop shell between two descending sea serpents.

    Notes: An iconic personification of Spring. Formerly at Swanborough Manor, Sussex.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: FRVH LING

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: LH000.909 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.

  4. 420

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 055.jpg
    580 x 460 mm

    Description: Rectanglular; flanged cavetto-moulded edging; pictorial scene of Christ and the woman of Samaria at Jacob's Well.

    Notes: Stoveplate; the scene illustrates the story from John 4.

    Manufactured: in the late-16th to early-17th century possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: LH000.797 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.

  5. 421

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 056.jpg
    950 x 550 mm

    Description: Rectangular; flanged edge; central pictorial panel illustrating Mordecai arriving before King Ahasuerus, Haman hanging from the gallows behind; two floral side panels, at the top of each a monogram within a cartouche: on the left KS, on the right H?D.

    Notes: Stoveplate; the scene illustrates a scene from Esther 7: 10 and 8: 1. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: KS H[?]D

    Manufactured: in the late-16th to early-17th century possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.040 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

  6. 422

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 057a.jpg
    910 x 795 mm

    Description: Rectangular with a square projection middle top; castellated top edging; top centre, stylised Calvary; upper section: pictorial scene, centre, house with tiled roof, windows, and chimney at each end, paths leading from house; left, possible forge building with four chimneys and three water wheels, and adjacent furnace stack?; above, shed with lean-to, barrow, and wheel structure, all between trees; right, figure of a man running towards the house, unidentified objects between trees; lower section: plain panel with central triple-grooved horizontal line.

    Notes: A striking and unusual fireback with a scene suggesting a connection with iron-making. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the late-16th to early-17th century possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.045 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

  7. 423

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 058.jpg
    635 x 925 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; standing female figure, classically dressed, holding a child in her arms, another child holding a wreath, seated to her left, and a putto standing to her right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; mask top centre with descending floral bunches on ribbons, with a cartouche centre bottom; on top, two symmetrical descending serpents.

    Notes: The figure represents Charity, one of a several iconic figures portrayed on firebacks of this period.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: LH000.947 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

  8. 424

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 059.jpg
    590 x 920 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging terminating at the top in two loops, gather drapery and a scallop shell; two figures to the right, both bearded, the one kneeling wears cavalry armour, a cloak and a crown, the other stands behind; to the left is a sacrificial pyre on which an ox carcass burns, and above an angel carrying a sword in his right hand and a skull in his left; around this is an arched rectangular border with fillet edging and a repeated leaf pattern; on top is a scallop shell between two dolphins.

    Notes: The scene illustrates the visitation of the pestilence on Israel described in 2 Samuel 24, and the sacrifice of an oxen by King David; the skull borne by the angel represents the death of those struck down by the plague. A slightly different version has the face of David looking down (no. 527). Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.070 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Hughes, G. B., 1960, Collecting Antiques (London, Country Life), pp. 85-93.

    Citation: Schubert, H. R., 1957, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry (London, Routledge), pp. 256-264.

  9. 425

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 060.jpg
    560 x 630 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging; S-scroll, two-handled, gadrooned vase with tulip stems, flowers and leaves; arched rectangular border with fillet edging and suspended flower bunches; two symmetrical, coiled serpents on top; narrow, curved shouldered side panels with beads in oval depressions.

    Notes: This is a shortened version of a much-copied fireback. Normally there is a bottom panel. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the late-17th century in England.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.091 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

  10. 426

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 061.jpg
    450 x 610 mm

    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.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.072 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)