Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular shape; moulded top edge with undulating floriate border within fillets intersecting at the corners; in each corner a rose; along the bottom, the motto Multi Societate Tutiores - With many more safe; within the border, shield, supporters and crest

Notes: Blazon: Argent, upon a rock issuant from the base proper, inscribed 1824 in gold numerals, a quadrangular castle also proper, pennons flying to the sinister from each tower gules; crest: In front of flames proper issuant from a coronet of four roses argent, barbed and seeded proper, set upon a rim Or, two keys in saltire, wards upwards, sable; supporters: On the dexter side a lion guardant Or, resting the sinister hind leg on an escutcheon argent charged with a rod of Aesculapius gules, and on the sinister side a like lion resting the dexter hind leg on an escutcheon argent charged with an anchor sable. The Alliance Assurance Company was founded in 1824 and merged with the Sun Insurance Company in 1959. The arms were granted in 1933. An openwork version of this fireback (i.e. with the background voided) was formerly displayed outside its offices. Christie's auction, London, sale no.7006, 19 May 2005, lot 34 (£384).

Inscription: MVLTI SOCIETATE TVTIORES

Arms: Alliance Assurance Company

Description: Arched rectangular shape; stylised twisted rope edging; centred, 'C & G' above 'S' above '1929', all between four stylised rope saltires.

Notes: A twentieth century fireback designed and executed in a traditional form.

Inscription: C & G / S / 1929

Description: Rectangular with three sided arch; astragal edging; lion rampant crest beaneath a crown; the date split either side of the lion's head.

Notes: The evenness of the casting, the form of the crown and the lion all suggest that the date is spurious.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: 16 39

Description: Rectangle joined to low arch with cyma recta curves; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); grid of twelve rectangles (4 columns of 3) with twisted rope borders; initials in arch, date in top line of rectangles.

Notes: A fireback cast specially to mark the 60th anniversary of the Sussex Archaeological Society, and donated to the society by Mr John Every.

Inscription: S.A.S. / 1926

Description: Low arched rectangle; astragal and stepped fillet edging; slanted shield, helm and mantling; crest missing; at bottom, date split either side of shield.

Notes: The arms are of the Pollen family of Redenham, Hampshire; blazon: azure, on a bend cotised or between six lozenges argent each charged with an escallop sable, five escallops vert.

Inscription: 19 27

Arms: Pollen of Andover, Hampshire

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging (top and sides) enclosing a shield, helm, crest, mantling and motto of the Fitch family, descendants of Edwin Frederick Fitch (1839-1916); above the achievement, symmetrical laurel leaves, all within an arched rectangular astragal border surmounted by, on the dexter side, a behelmeted merman holding a scimitar and, on the sinister side, a mermaid holding a mirror; top centre, three ostrich feathers gathered with a ribbon.

Notes: A pastiche of the 17th century Carolean 'Dutch' series (e.g. no. 280). Blazon: Vert, on a chevron between three leopards' faces or langued gules, as many cross crosslets fitchee of the last, in the chief point an ermine spot of the second; Crest: Upon a wreath of the colours, a leopard's face erminois pierced through the mouth with a sword broken in the middle argent, pommel and hilt or.

Inscription: FACTA NON VERBA [Actions not words]

Arms: Fitch

Description: Arched shape with bead edging; from top, large bead with four pairs of small beads in a cross shape, text with pellet surrounded by eight beads on each side of 'G', and at bottom.

Notes: Made by, and bearing the initials of Eric Gill and his wife, Mary, in 1930.

Inscription: E&M / G / MCM / XXX