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624
Description: Rectangular; cavetto edging all round; seated lion on right, its tail rising above its back and its head turned to face the viewer; a seated sheep on the left; date split across top.
Notes: Intended to represent the saying, ‘The lion shall lie down with the lamb’, a popular misquotation of Isaiah 11: 6.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1679
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- pictorial
- biblical
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in 1679 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Small cavetto series
- Old Testament & Apocrypha firebacks
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631
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.
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular with arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
Citation: Carpentier, H., 1912, Plaques de Cheminées (Paris & Florange, published by the author).
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
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646
Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; bell-flower column repeated on each side; at bottom, central rectangular panel, fillet edged, enclosing outstretched wings; above, intertwined leaves in figure-of-eight, enclosing a crown at the top.
Notes: This fireback incorporates features of the ‘Dutch’ style but within an English form.
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- plants
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3484 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
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648
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 ribbon from a bow, the bird is clutching an olive twig, other sprigs are below; arched rectangular border with arch and fillet edging; mirrored festoons of flowers and fruit suspended from roses, scrolled foliage at the bottom; on top, central scallop shell between descending dolphins.
Notes: The parrot on the ring perch is a popular design on Dutch firebacks.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3491 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Bird on perch firebacks
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
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653
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; central, two handled, fluted vase with swirled, fruited vines issuing from the neck, and a bird on each side perched within the vines; out of the neck, a naïve human figure with arms outstretched, grasping vines on each side.
Notes: The figure emerging from the vase has a symbolism which has yet to be explained.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3496 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
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674
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging; pictorial scene of a seated female figure resting against a hurdle, holding an anchor, a child on each side of her, the one on the left standing clutching corn stalks, the one on the right sitting also holding the anchor and a circular object; a bird sits on a post; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; at the top of the arch a cartouche from which are suspended two ribbons, each held by a putto, from which cascade flowers and fruit, each lower part hung from a ring; two putti are on each side, one climbing on the suspended ribbon, the other at its foot; at the bottom, an empty cartouche between two clusters of flowers each suspended on a ribbon tied to a scroll; on top, two descending cornucopiae.
Notes: The figure represents Hope. The theft in 1699 from a Thames-side warehouse of several firebacks, including '3 of Hope with an Anchor' may refer to this type (Post Boy 11-14 Nov. 1699).
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Saffron Walden Museum, Saffron Walden, Essex, England.
Museum number: 1889-9 (part of the Saffron Walden Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' HIS series
- Hope firebacks
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678
Description: Arched rectangular main panel; fillet edging; nude female figure standing on shield and holding a wind-blown sheet, upon a ground; suspended floral garlands with swirled foliage above; on top, a scallop shell between two symmetrical sea serpents
Notes: The figure is of Fortune. The theft in 1699 from a Thames-side warehouse of several firebacks, including '5 iron Chimney-Backs cast in the figure of Fortune standing naked on a Conchus in the Sea' may refer to this type (Post Boy 11-14 Nov. 1699).
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- humans
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Saffron Walden Museum, Saffron Walden, Essex, England.
Museum number: 1901-39 (part of the Saffron Walden Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
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684
Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; an inverted, cabled anchor surmounted by a crown, flanked by one initial each side; arched rectangular border with cavetto-moulded edging; top centre, face of a putto with flowing leaf arrangement descending each side.
Notes: An English pastiche of the ‘Dutch’ style of fireback, which became popular in the second half of the seventeenth century. One of a small series of firebacks with similar proportions and detail. Much copied.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: C R
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.
Current location: in private hands, Sevenoaks, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Carolean 'Dutch' series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
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350
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto edging; armorial; Stuart English royal arms within a circular garter; crown, motto and supporters (crowned lion and unicorn); initials separated by crown.
Notes: An early casting of a widely copied fireback.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: C R / HONI SOI T·QVI·MAL·Y· PENSE / DIEU ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal (prob. Charles II)
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.
Current location: Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent, England.
(part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Carolean royal armorial firebacks
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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903
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date between split initials across upper half of plate; two notches cut away for insertion of firedogs.
Notes: The ‘6s’ appear to have been moulded from a type of jemmy.
Inscription: g 1669 P [reversed]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1669 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: George & Dragon Inn, Speldhurst Hill, Speldhurst, Kent, England.