Firebacks

Description: Plain rectangular plate with cyma reversa, or ogee, moulding on top and sides.

Notes: A base board without other decoration. Other firebacks may have been cast using it.

Description: Arched rectangular shape with a fleur-de-lys springing from each shoulder; cyma recta-moulded edging; quartered shield of the Stuart royal arms of England with surrounding Garter, surmounted by a crown and supported by a crowned lion and unicorn; indistinct motto cartouche along the bottom.

Notes: A poorly-modelled and much-worn fireback. The fleur extensions to the top of the edging are an unusual feature

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Canted rectangle; complex moulded edging (top and sides); rectangular incised initial stamp repeated ten times 3-4-3.

Notes: The use of an incised stamp is uncommon.

Inscription: RTI [repeated 10 times]

Description: A modified recasting of a variant of the ‘Armada’ fireback, with initials changed to IK, a single anchor panel, and the addition of a plain base and borders, the latter each with a twisted rope saltire, upper middle.

Notes: It is likely that an original four-panel fireback has been used to recast a copy with additional side and base panels; the saltires may have apotropaic significance. A second fireback at the house cast in the 19th century is identical but for being 1% smaller all round, and has a full-width extension on top bearing four symmetrical rope saltires, the outer two larger than the inner two. The first example was used to make the second.

Inscription: 1588 / IK

Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); initial in each top corner, the S angled to the right.

Notes: Initial letters are in high relief.

Inscription: W S

Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, supporters and motto.

Notes: One of many designs of the Stuart royal arms on firebacks. A recasting, hence the illegible motto. Sold at Christie's Masters and Makers auction, 30 November 2010, lot 517.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / DIEV ET MON DROIT

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Inclined rectangle with ogee arch; fillet and ogee moulded edging; garter enclosing English Stuart royal arms, with supporters, helm, crest, mantling and motto.

Notes: Standard armorial design; the inclined shape is uncommon.

Inscription: [Garter motto illegible] DIEV ET MON DROIT

Arms: English Stuart royal

Description: Arched rectangular plain shape with the sides of the arch concave, and with a diamond-shaped protrusion on each side; astragal edged sides terminating at the shoulders of the platre with a triangle on each side; top centre, initials in triad.

Notes: As small and unusual fireback of which only the upper part is visible, the lower part concealed behind a metal plate.

Inscription: IWM [triad]

Description: Fragment, left side missing; arched rectangular shape; fillet edging (top and sides visible); initials IG widely spaced in arch.

Notes: Previously at Bream Court Farm, Newland, Gloucestershire.

Inscription: I G

Description: Rectangular; triple-fillet moulded edging formed of lengths of carved wood (top and upper seven-eights of sides only); stamp formed of an elliptical shield enclosed within an elliptical border of 23 beads, all mounted on a rectangular block, repeated eight times symmetrically 3-2-3.

Notes: This is a rare example of elliptical arms on a fireback; in each instance the stamp has been over-pressed so that the block on which it was carved has appeared in relief.

Arms: not known