Firebacks

Manufactured in the late 17th to early 18th century

52 results

  1. 828

    lewes,_lewes house.jpg
    755 x 790 mm

    Description: Upon a rectangular base plinth with an inscribed rectangle, to each side, a wide foliate scroll; central cartouche behind an oval shield bearing three fleurs-de-lys over a horizontally textured ground, supported on each side by a draped male figure, the whole surmounted by a French royal crown; on top, an arch rising from horizontal moulding on each side.

    Notes: Characteristic of designs illustrated by architects such as Daniel Marot; the texturing on the shield indicates the azure tincture.

    Arms: French royal

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in France.

    Current location: in private hands, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

  2. 377

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 012.jpg
    335 x 520 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on fillet edging and two tassels hanging from top of arch; pictorial image of a cherub with arrows in both hands sitting on a phoenix; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; scallop shell at top with descending ribbons and fruit clusters; date and monogram below central panel; bottom panel with inscription; on top, two sea serpents, with open buds on shoulders of recatngle.

    Notes: The customary monogram on such firebacks is NDV. Several anglicised versions of this type of fireback exist. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 17 NDW 01 / VOGEL PHOENIX [bird phoenix]

    Manufactured: in 1701 in the Siegerland area of Germany.

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

    Museum number: 1944.24.087 (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).

  3. 405

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 039.jpg
    820 x 620 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with small rhomboidal flanges in the corners of the arch; cavetto moulded edge on all sides; Stuart royal arms (1605-88, 1702-14) with lion and unicorn supporters, garter, crown and motto; raised inscription in a tapering label beneath crown.

    Notes: An amended copy of a 17th/early 18th century original (see no. 633). The added inscription has been impressed with the personalised cast handle of a cooking vessel. A bronze skillet bearing the inscription 'STANDEN 1726' on its handle has been recorded elsewhere, but the impression on the fireback has been formed from a handle with the inscription inset in relief, whereas the 1726 inscription is inscribed. Also the lettering on the handle used to personalise the fireback, which includes the letter A surmounted with a horizontal line, is of an earlier style. Three members of the Standen family, Thomas, James and Elias, were founders at Beech or Robertsbridge furnaces, Sussex, 1728-9, and a John Standen was casting skillets at Heathfield Furnace in the early 1730s; each could have been the founder of the 1726 skillet, but the maker of the handle used in the fireback casting may have been earlier. Formerly at Marshalls Manor House, Maresfield, Sussex.

    Inscription: IAMES STANDEN [+Garter and royal mottoes]

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in the Weald area of England.

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

    Museum number: LH000.943 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

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

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

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2020, 'A Skillet Handle on a Fireback', Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, 25 (2020), pp. 48-51.

  4. 456

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 096.jpg
    452 x 711 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with canted, concave top corners and bead edging; figure seated astride a triumph of weaponry (cannon, spears, drums), holding a laurel wreath in his right hand, symmetrical hanging drapery above; same-shaped border with fillet edging and suspended ribbons with floral bunches; at base, symmetrical reeds tied with ribbon; base panel with nine linked rings; symmetrical serpents on top.

    Notes: Possibly a depiction of an allegory of Victory. Other firebacks have the same distinctive central panel, border shape and decoration at the bottom, suggesting the same pattern maker. A reduced version (no. 1253) lacks the serpents on top and the reeds at the bottom. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century possibly in the Weald area of England.

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

    Museum number: 1944.24.079 (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).

  5. 1170

    marlborough_ma,_skinners_482x724.jpg
    482 x 724 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead on broad fillet edging; two-handled vase standing on a ground, with flowers and oak fronds issuing therefrom in a symmetrical display; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; symmetrical undulating vine with flowers and leaves descending from a trio of flowers; at the bottom, the letter W in a cartouche between swirled foliage; on top, mirrored swirled foliage issuing upwards from a mythical creature on each shoulder.

    Notes: The floral theme and its execution shows parallels with the SHR, N and 1724 series of firebacks and could be from the same workshop. The 'W' initial probably denotes the pattern maker.

    Inscription: W

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: not known.

  6. 1131

    milton_common,_three_pigeons_02b.jpg
    510 x 775 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with 'nutshell' edging; pictorial: Mercury in his chariot drawn by two birds (possibly ravens) across the clouds, his caduceus held aloft; above are clouds, below is a landscape with plants; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, a scallop shell top centre with descending symmetrical arrangement of vine and acanthus leaves and tendrils; the monogram, SHR, bottom centre; on top is a symmetrical design of scrolled floral tendrils. One vertical plankline right of centre.

    Notes: The design is based on a personification of the planet Mercury in 'Planetarum effectus et eorum in signis zodiaci', by Marten de Vos (1585). The holes were for fixing to a grate.

    Inscription: SHR

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: not known.

  7. 1068

    panxworth,_norfolk reclamation 01a.jpg
    430 x 490 mm

    Description: Arched shape with forward-facing 'wings', which splay outwards towards the base, curved to follow the shape of the main panel; central panel with stylised tree decoration surmounted with a scallop shell between six 'leaves' (one damaged).

    Notes: This small, but unusual, casting was probably cast in an open box mould as the upcast (reverse) side of the casting shows evidence of being sand-treated. Only a very small number of such castings are known. Depth 200mm.

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location:, not known.

  8. 507

    parham_003.jpg
    1095 x 805 mm

    Description: Low arched rectangle with stepped shoulders; cavetto moulded edging; Stuart royal shield with lion and unicorn supporters, garter and crown.

    Notes: The pattern was probably carved in high relief, but the depth of casting sand may have been insufficient for all the detail to be revealed. At least one horizontal plank line is visible.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: Parham House, Parham, West Sussex, England.

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

  9. 537

    pet-m-91.jpg
    335 x 554 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-and-pellet edging on a broad fillet; nude figure of a man standing on a mound, resting his left hand on a club, a plant to his right, and drapery swags above; arched rectangular border with symmetrical swirls; monogram centre bottom; on top, symmetrical, swirled foliage.

    Notes: The figure is probably of Hercules.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: SHR

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: Petworth House, Petworth, West Sussex, England.

    Museum number: NT/PET/M/91 (part of the National Trust museum group)

  10. 886

    pimlico,_gifford mead 03.jpg
    660 x 910 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with ‘nutshell’ edging on a broad fillet; head-dressed figure, holding a sceptre in her right hand, sitting in a chariot drawn to the left by two armadillos; the whole upon a two-arched bridge with masonry, decorated keystones and spandrels, and waves beneath; above, swagged drapery with two tassels hanging from the centre; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, with a symmetrical scrolled wire design; the monogram, SHR, bottom centre; above is a symmetrical design of scrolled floral tendrils.

    Notes: The design is derived from a personification of America, one of a set of playing cards entitled 'Jeu de la Géographie', designed by Stefano della Bella (1677).

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: SHR

    Manufactured: in the late 17th to early 18th century in England.

    Current location: not known.