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945
Description: Rectangular with two-stepped top; twisted rope edging (top and sides) formed of short rope sections, with top vertical sections extending down beyond the join with the next horizontal section; top centre, stamp formed of a talbot statant guardant upon a wreath; date separated by crest stamp; initials below and separated by date.
Notes: The talbot crest has been seen on other firebacks indicating a common source.
Inscription: 16 21 / R T
- Decoration tags:
- stepped (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1621 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Lindfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Talbot crest series
- Stepped firebacks
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975
? x ? mmImage subject to copyrightDescription: Arched shape; double-fillet edged arched border, with six evenly-spaced roses, resting on pilasters; shield, supporters, garter and coronet of the Earl of Exeter; plain rectangular bottom panel.
Notes: The arms are of the earldom of Exeter, which was created in 1605 for Thomas Cecil, 2nd Lord Burghley (1542-1623).
Inscription: HONY SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE [illegible]
Arms: Cecil, Earls of Exeter
- Decoration tags:
- arched (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
Manufactured: in the early 17th century in Wales.
Current location: Plas Llanmihangel, Llanmihangel, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: GL 7628 (part of the National Monuments Record of Wales museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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471
Description: Rectangular with small central triangle on top; twisted rope edging (top and sides) and across base of triangle; top centre, date, centrally positioned above the separated pairs of initials, WY; below and right of centre, rope saltire; bottom centre, a hole apparently puncturing the plate from behind.
Notes: The initials are those of William Yalden (1580-1659), an ironmaster who was active in north-west Sussex and south-west Surrey where this and other similar firebacks have been noted. The saltire is likely to have had an apotropaic purpose. Although undoubtedly connected with the builder of the house wherein it rests, the fireback pre-dates the building, which was erected in 1640.
Inscription: 1616 / WY WY
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with triangular arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- apotropaic
- text
Manufactured: in 1616 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Lodsworth, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- William Yalden series
- Date & initials firebacks
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277
Description: Arched rectangular with cavetto-moulding along top, supported by Ionic pilasters; English Stuart royal shield, garter, helm, crown, motto and supporters; date below and either side of garter.
Notes: One of several firebacks, all of the same date, but varying in size, framing style and moulding; all have stylistic features in common and will have been the work of the same pattern maker, who was also responsible for carving royal coats of arms in three West Country churches.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I R [Jacobus Rex] / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / 16 18 / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal (James I)
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- architectural
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1618 possibly in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London, England.
Museum number: 80.271/92 (part of the Museum of London museum group)
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480
Description: Arched rectangle; ovolo, egg-and-dart moulded edging; shield, helm, coronet, crest and mantling; curved inscription panel below shield.
Notes: The heraldic devices on the shield, and the form of the helm and crest suggest this may be a continental achievement of arms; the style of the fireback is, however, is more characteristic of English types.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: ... D HADRIANI ... EQVITE DOM DE HE.. / ... M.. ... ... [?]
Arms: not known
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- egg and dart (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in the early 17th century .
Current location: Maidstone Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, England.
(part of the Maidstone Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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1036
Description: Canted rectangular shape; no edging; lower centre, carved pattern panel of Stuart Royal arms: shield, garter, crown, motto, supporters and initials, RI separated by crown; lion statant guardant stamp repeated five times, three across top, one each side feet to left.
Notes: The impression of the decorative elements is irregular, with the achievement of arms under-pressed and the three lion stamps along the top over-pressed; the distinctive feature of the unicorn's horn in front of the initial R has been seen on a small number of other firebacks. From a photograph in the J. Starkie Gardner Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum, Archive of Art and Design (AAD/2014/8).
Inscription: I R
Arms: English Stuart royal - James I
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- carved stamps
- carved pattern panels
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in the early 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Maidstone Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, England.
(part of the Maidstone Museum museum group)
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970
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging; date along the top; initials in triad across the middle, inside canted rectangular rope border; fleur-de-lys stamp repeated five times down each side.
Notes: The initials probably represent those of a married couple, the 'V' for their surname; it is relatively unusual for twisted rope edging to continue along the bottom of the plate. The back was found in Massachusetts and may have been brought there by an early colonist.
Inscription: 1626 / MVS
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1626 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Herndon, Virginia, United States of America.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- 1626 Dean series
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954
Description: Arched shape; patterned astragal edging; central shield with helm, crest and mantling above, and motto scroll below; initials either side of crest; date split by shield.
Notes: The arms are those of Chamberlayne: gules, an inescutcheon within an orle of mullets argent; the crest: out of a ducal coronet the head of an ass (the tinctures vary according to the branch of the family); the initials are reputed to be those of Thomas Chamberlayne; the date appears to have been hand inscribed. The style of the carving is the same as on two other firebacks in the same county.
Inscription: T C / 16 18 / [motto unreadable]
Arms: Chamberlayne
- Decoration tags:
- arched (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1618 possibly in the Herefordshire area of England.
Current location: Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, Herefordshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Herefordshire armorial series
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502
Description: Arched rectangular shape; embattled cavetto-moulded edging; shield, garter, supporters and crown of James I of England; a branch sprouting a rose and leaf to the left of the crown, a branch sprouting a thistle and leaf to the right; initials at top, split by crown; date below shield.
Notes: Similar in style to the 1619 series, this plate has larger rose and thistle plant stamps and was probably designed by the same pattern-maker
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I R / 16 21
Arms: English Stuart royal - James I
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- embattled cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in 1621 in England.
Current location: Newick Park Hotel, Newick, East Sussex, England.
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519
Description: Rectangular; Ionic pilasters at sides, architrave on top; English Stuart royal shield, garter, crown, motto and supporters; date below and either side of garter.
Notes: One of several firebacks, all of the same date, but varying in size, framing style and moulding; all have stylistic features in common and will have been the work of the same pattern maker, who was also responsible for carving royal coats of arms in three West Country churches. A plaster cast of a fireback of this design is displayed as the royal arms in St George's church, near Abergele in north Wales.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / 16 18 / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal (James I)
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1618 possibly in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent, England.