Firebacks

Description: Fragment; rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging; image of an iron grate with barred front and integral andiron with iron or brass disc.

Notes: A unique example; it is not certain how the mould was formed, whether by impressing an actual grate or carving a pattern with the image of a grate; the former seems more likely.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with canted top corners and bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial scene of Jesus at the well with the woman of Samaria; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; on top, central scallop shell with a descending dolphin on each side of the arch.

Notes: A scene from the New Testament - John 4.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular shape; bead-on-fillet edging; standing figure of a female holding a torch in her right hand, a goat by her feet, and a bush bottom left; arched rectangular border with ovolo-moulded edging; symmetrical arrangement of scrolled foliage; on top, a scallop shell with a descending dolphin on each side of the arch.

Notes: The figure is an allegorical representation of Wisdom.

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-on-fillet edging; pictorial scene of a seated female holding a small child, with two putti, one on each side of her, the one on her right holding an olive branch, the one on her left holding a flaming heart, his foot aginst a globe; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; top centre, laurel wreath from which descend festoons of flowers and fruit suspended from roses; at the bottom, a cartouche containing the intials between two cornucopiae; on top, a scallop shell between two descending dolphins.

Notes: The group is an allegorical representation of Charity

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: H S

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; pictorial scene of Venus, naked and kneeling, and Adonis, standing, holding a spear in his left hand, with Cupid to the left, and a hound and a quiver of arrows below to the right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; at top of arch, grape bunches; at each side, a festoon of fruit suspended on a ribbon from a lion's head; at the bottom, an oval cartouche between flowers; on top, an urn from which descends a dolphin on each side of the arch.

Notes: The scene is based on the painting (c.1635) of Venus and Adonis by Peter Paul Rubens; the same central panel is known with several different borders.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto edging; Stuart royal arms of England (quarterly, 1st and 4th, France and England, 2nd Scotland and 3rd Ireland) with garter, crown, motto and supporters; initials either side of crown base.

Notes: As in others of this series the design overlaps the edging.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: C R / ...SOIT QVI MAL Y ...

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Arched rectangular shape; bead-on-fillet edging; in a garden of ground, a tree and a tall plant in a pot, the standing figure of a young person blowing a pipe, two sheep or goats behind; arched rectangular border with ovolo-moulded edging; symmetrical arrangement of scrolled foliage; on top, a scallop shell with a descending dolphin on each side of the arch.

Notes: The scene may be allegorical or purely representational.

Description: Rectangular central panel with bead edging all round, pictorial scene of a landscape at the fore of which Jesus sits at a well with the woman of Samaria; above the panel is a bead-edged arch with a floral wreath; arched rectangular border with canted top corners and cavetto-moulded edging; repeated low-relief pattern of linked squares and diamonds; at the bottom, indistinct floral swirls; on top, a small crown with descending mirrored swirls.

Notes: The scene is from John 4.

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.