Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial scene of the interior of the stable at Bethlehem with a stone arched doorway and a hay stall in the background; in the left foreground the seated figure of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, and Joseph behind; behind Joseph a donkey, and to the left of the child a seated ox; to the right, three figures, one kneeling and another holding a hat; in front of the kneeling figure a basket; arched rectangular border with fillet edging and a repeated leaf pattern; on top, a scallop shell between two dolphins.

Notes: The scene is of the Adoration by the Magi - Matthew 2: 11.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular shape with bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial scene of St Michael the Archangel fighting the Devil; on top, a pomegranate with serpents descending down each side of the arch; a pomegranate on top of each shoulder of the plate.

Notes: Notable for the absence of a border and the lack of a background to the scene.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Rectangular with fillet sides and bottom; scrolled foliage on outside edges; date in narrow rectangular panel at bottom; central pictorial representation of four historical figures (see below), three male in mid-17th century armour, and one female; tripple arched top formed of rococo scrolls, a putto forming the middle arch.

Notes: The inscription may relate to the defeat of the Spanish at s'Hertogenbosch (den Bosch - ENDE BUSH) in 1629, and Wesel. von den Driesch states that the figures, from left to right, are: Prinz Fredrik Henrik of Oranje, his daughter, Luise Henriette, Prince Maurice of Nassau, and the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg, who married Luise Henriette. Foreign craftsmanship may account for the incorrect spelling of Dutch names.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: PRESNTZI VAN WESEL ENDE BVSH / 1667

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with arch and bead edging within a similarly shaped cavetto-moulded border and pomegranates on to and on the ach shoulder of the plate; pictorial representation of the king of Sweden mounted on a horse.

Notes: The king would be Gustav II. There is a companion fireback bearing the image of Prince Fredrik Henrik of Oranje.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: DIE KONINCK VON SWEDEN

Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; on each side a column of small overlapping leaves above a pedestal with a single acanthus leaf; issuing from the top of each column two ribbons, in figure-of-eight with grenade terminals, fly across the arch; within an arched rectangular central panel with bead edging three naked children disport about a swag of fruit, with a central pomegranate, suspended from the top of each column; one figure sits on the top, facing right, the other two hang symmetrically from below, with mirrored swirls behind them; along the base is a line of acanthus leaves; on top a sea serpent is curled on each end.

Notes: The design may have been inspired by the paintings of Jan Pauwel Gillemans the younger (1651-1704); he may have worked in London in 1675-8. Another version of the fireback (no. 591), probably by the same pattern-maker, has a slightly different design.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging; pictorial scene of Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac, the former's hand being stayed by an angel, a ram in an adjacent thicket; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; arrangement of sunflowers linked with festoons of leaves; at bottom, swirled foliage; on top, a scallop shell between mirrored swirled foliage.

Notes: The scene is from the Old Testament - Genesis 22: 12; a popular subject on firebacks.

Description: Arched rectangular shape with arch; bead-on-fillet edging within a cavetto-moulded border; pictorial representation of a man and woman in the dress of the mid 17th century, with a fruit tree between them.

Notes: The significance of this design has not been satisfactorily explained. Carpentier suggests it may be a contemporary depiction of Adam and Eve.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Rectangular; flanged edging; upper part, pictorial scene of a landscape with tree, clouds and buildings in the background; foreground, Jesus and three disciples, and a woman pleading on her knees. Above the group, the letter D; at the bottom, the letters, MR.

Notes: Although the quotation is given as Matthew 15: 15, the scene appears to illustrate Matthew 15: 22 - 'And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.'

Inscription: D / MATTHAI CAP 15 V 15 [quotation in German] / MR[?]

Description: Arched rectangular shape with fillet edging and a repeated line and concentric semi-circle design; wicker enclosure with gate at bottom, overlaid with a lion rampant surmounted by a crown.

Notes: The enclosure is the Garden of Holland (Hollandse Tuin) and the lion the badge of the States General of the Netherlands; on the shoulders of the plate, and on three other positions equally spaced around the arch, repeated small fleurs-d-lys.

Inscription: ...E HOV...

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with arch and bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial representation of a popinjay, or parrot, perched on a ring suspended by a string, the bird is clutching an olive twig, two others are below; arched rectangular border with arch; cavetto-moulded edging;to left and right, a Corinthian column with twisted lower part, and an entablature above; at top, a central flower with scrolls descending on both sides of the arch; on top, n orb, repeated on each shoulder of the plate.

Notes: The inscription is a mis-spelling of the German for parrot; the parrot on the ring perch is a popular design on Dutch firebacks.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: PAPEGEI