-
45
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded, gadrooned edging (top and sides); a vertical spindle or chair leg surmounted by a fleur-de-lys arranged three times; the date split by the middle fleur-de-lys.
Notes: The fleur-de-lys is separately stamped from the spindle, and the same spindle is seen on another fireback of the same date.
Inscription: 1641
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1641 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
-
49
Description: Rectangular with cavetto curves rising to corners and a ‘portico’ top; fillet edging with bas-relief, alternate regularly spaced semi-circles and triangles inside; two-handled flower vase with acanthus bas-relief, trailing vines issuing from top, with pomegranate and hop(?), descending through handles to base; lion’s head at top; date split either side of vase base.
Notes: The bas-relief edging also appears on other firebacks, suggesting the same pattern maker. The date was probably added separately. Formerly in Dallington, East Sussex. Burstow & Hewett auction, Battle, 3 Apr 2019, lot 1706 (£35).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1662
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners and triangular arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- pictorial
- text
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1662 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
-
273
Description: Rectangular with twisted rope edging top and sides; central arch with twisted rope edging; date in arch (8 with flattened top); initials repeated in top corners.
Notes: An unusually large plate to have such simple decoration.
Inscription: 1648 / TK TK
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1648 in England.
Current location: in private hands, Dorton, Buckinghamshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
56
Description: Flattened arched rectangular shape; cavetto moulded edge all round; Stuart royal arms with lion and unicorn supporters, crown, garter and motto; CR initials placed separately outside supporters; date split either side of crown.
Notes: A much-copied variant with the additional initials, I T, above the date and on either side of the crown.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I T / 1635 / C R / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal (Charles I )
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1635 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Dyrham Park, Dyrham, Gloucestershire, England.
Museum number: 453291 (part of the National Trust museum group)
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- Carolean royal armorial firebacks
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
-
1085
Description: Rectangular; rebated ovolo-moulded edging (top, left and half-right sides); top centre, date with unevenly positioned numerals.
Notes: The asymmetry of the side moulding is unusual.
Inscription: 1667
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rebated ovolo moulding (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1667 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Faversham, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date only firebacks
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
-
295
Description: Five-facetted arched shape; ovolo-moulded edging comprising two separate lengths of moulding repeated to form sides and arch; shield of Hickman (per pale indented argent and azure) impaling Nevile (?gules a saltire argent) within repeated laurel leaves inside a scrolled cartouche; date top centre.
Notes: William Hickman of Old Hall, Gainsborough, 2nd Baronet (1629-82), married Elizabeth Neville of Mattersey, Nottinghamshire, c.1652. The multi-facetted arch calls to mind a series of firebacks cast in the Weald which are also associated with the Nevills (see 1589 series), although they are of earlier date.
Inscription: 1658
Arms: Hickman impaling Neville; Sir William Hickman
- Decoration tags:
- multi-facet arched (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 in England.
Current location: Gainsborough Old Hall, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England.
(part of the English Heritage museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
-
1234
Description: Rectangular shape; overlapping laurel leaf on astragal edging; top centre, English royal crown above an arch-shaped laurel garland, the top tied with ribbon; beneath, a palm garland of the same shape but inverted, tied at the bottom, encircling twin letter Cs, one reversed; to left and right of centre, split date, 1667.
Notes: Perhaps commemorating the Peace of Breda which brought the Second Dutch War to an end, the twin letter Cs probably represent King Charles II and Queen Catherine. J. Starkie Gardner (1898, p. 152) misread the date as 1661 and interpreted it as celebrating the Restoration. A similar casting was lot 76, Simon Drieu & Co. auctioneers, Jersey, 20 Jul 2022.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 16 67
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- overlapping laurel leaf (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1667 in England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Gardner, J. S., 1898, 'Iron Casting in the Weald', Archaeologia, 56, 1, pp. 133-164.
- Attached to series:
- Commemorative firebacks
-
76
Description: Rectangular with ‘portico’ arch; cavetto edging; two-handled vase, flower stems on each side entwined round handles; flowers emerging from top of vase; base of vase overlaps the edging.
Notes: One of a varied group of small firebacks with bold, simple designs and cavetto edging; formerly in the possession of Gertrude Jekyll, Munstead Wood, near Godalming, Surrey.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with triangular arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid-17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.
Museum number: S.7129 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)
Citation: Jekyll, G., 1903, Old West Surrey, London, Longmans.
- Attached to series:
- Small cavetto series
-
1138
Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); upper centre, date between shoulders of arch.
Notes: The numerals have been crudely impressed, probably using a pointed implement.
Inscription: 1658
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date only firebacks
-
108
Description: Quasi-rectangular with narrow arches at top ends and a broad low central arch, between which are flat-topped peaks linked to the arches by shallow concave curves; flanged edge (top and sides); mirroring the edge a channel has been engraved into the metal, extending into the small arches, producing the effect of a wide fillet along the top and sides with an inverted U-shaped return into the end arches; within the channel, at each end, a primitive representation of a vertical, hollow plant stem and four mirrored pairs of curved branches, with a vertical channel parallel to the edge joining the branch ends on the inside; between these is cast a small, rectangular panel with ovolo edging, bearing a full achievement of the arms of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers; the date is centrally placed above this panel.
Notes: An usual fireback for several reasons: the use of engraving for significant elements of the design, the flanged edge, and the incorporation of a small fireback. The Clothworkers’ arms: Sable a chevron ermine between in chief two Havettes Argent and in base a Teazel Cob Or; crest: on a Mount vert a Ram statant Or; supporters: two Griffins Or pellettée; the arms as displayed were granted in 1587. An example of the armorial fireback on its own is in Petworth House (no. 522).
Inscription: WV 1659 WV
Arms: Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with three arches (shape)
- flanged (edging)
- composite
- individual numbers
- planklines
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1659 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.
Museum number: 8587 (part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Composite firebacks
- Livery company firebacks