-
226
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead-and-pellet edging on a wide fillet; central pedestal with a serpent fountain ringed with water, and two swans swimming, plants rising from the waves; above, swags of drapery with two central tassels; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical floral fronds descending from a rose, top centre, with a looped 'W' in each shoulder; inscription at base, beteen date; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils. A single vertical plankline right of centre.
Notes: One of a group of firebacks all of the same date, some of which have the same Welsh inscription which translates as 'God is our strength'. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The design is taken from 'Nouveaux livres de ...Fontaines [etc.]' (La Haye & Amsterdam 1702-5) by Daniel Marot (1661-1752). Formerly at Allt-y-ferin, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- architectural
- text
- animals
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: 62.156 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
238
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead-and-pellet edging on a wide fillet; crowned figure, holding a sceptre in his right hand, sitting in a chariot drawn to the left by two, caparisoned horses with ostrich feather head-dresses; the whole upon a three-arched bridge with keystones and a string course, waves beneath; above, swagged drapery with two tassels hanging from the centre; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical, descending oak leaf and acorn branches, with a looped 'W' in each shoulder; inscription at base; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils and berries. A single central vertical plankline.
Notes: One of a series produced in the same year. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The design is derived from a personification of Europe, one of a set of playing cards entitled Jeu de la Géographie, designed by Stefano della Bella for Louis XIV. The inscription translates as 'God is our strength'.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- allegorical
- text
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: F81.233 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
240
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead-and-pellet edging on a wide fillet; ground with birds, and trees behind; in the centre a circular fountain rim with a swan on a plinth surrounded by water, with jets of water rising from the swan’s mouth and descending on either side; above, a heron and a goose fly to the left; under the arch, swags of drapery; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical floral fronds descending from a scallop shell, top centre, with a looed 'W' in each shoulder; inscription at base between date; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils. A single central vertical plankline.
Notes: One of a group of firebacks, all of the same date, some of which have the same Welsh inscription which translates as 'God is our strength'. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The design is derived from an illustration in Labyrinthe de Versailles by Charles Perrault (1677); the flying heron is copied from a print by Wenceslaus Hollar c.1658.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- architectural
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: F83.116 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)
Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
271
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with top corners cavetto canted, bead-and-pellet edging on a wide fillet; hanging drapery with central tassels over three low-arched cubicles, the two outer smaller than the centre, with Tuscan columns and overlapping scales behind; on a plinth of overlapping scales with a scallop shell behind, the standing figure of Neptune/Poseidon, holding a trident in his right hand; water issues from by his feet and from the waves below him disport two ‘sea horses’ and three dolphins; arched rectangular shaped border with top corners cavetto canted, fillet edging: suspended symmetrical beads with tassel ends decorated with sea shells; between two looped 'W' figures, the inscription separating halves of the date along the bottom; above, a central scallop shell with symmetrical floral scrolls on each side.
Notes: From a design in 'Nouveaux livres de ...Statues [etc.]' (La Haye & Amsterdam 1702-5), by Daniel Marot. The inscription, translated as 'GOD is our strength', is a paraphrase of Psalm 46: 1; the original wooden pattern is in Museum Rotterdam (no. 931}; an identical inscription and date is found on several firebacks. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. Formerly at Dogwells Farmhouse, Corscombe, Dorset; other examples are at Leith Hill Place, Surrey, and Lower Brockhampton farmhouse, Herefordshire, the latter having originally been in Dunster Castle, Somerset.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- architectural
- text
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset, England.
(part of the Dorset County Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
227
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging on a wide fillet; two-handled vase with assorted flowers on a stand with scrolled legs; a plant pot on each side; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging, symmetrical floral fronds descending from a rose, top centre, with a looped 'W' in each shoulder; inscription at base; on top, symmetrical scrolled plant tendrils.
Notes: The second largest of six flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The inscription, known from other firebacks in the series, translates as 'God is our strength'. Dore & Rees Auctions, Frome, 6 Dec 2024, lot 93 (£130).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: Dore & Rees Auctions, Vicarage Street, Frome, Somerset, England.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
858
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead-and-pellet on fillet edging, narrow-necked, two-handled urn with flowers and wheat ears issuing therefrom, the vase resting on paving, upon which are two small flowers in pots with a stool between; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical floral tendrils, a looped 'W' in each shoulder; on top, mirrored leaves, tendrils and wheat ears; inscription along bottom of border.
Notes: The largest of six flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The inscription translates as 'God is our strength'. Illustration from Goodwin-Smith, 1936.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Goodwin-Smith, R., 1936, 'Some English Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 97, pp. 36-8.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
-
885
Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead-and-pellet edging, narrow-necked, two-handled urn with flowers and wheat ears issuing therefrom, the vase resting on a wall with stone courses, against which are two small flowers in pots with a stool between; arched rectangular shaped border with fillet edging and symmetrical floral tendrils, a looped 'W' in each shoulder; on top, mirrored leaves, tendrils and wheat ears; inscription along bottom of border.
Notes: The largest of six flower vase designs in this series. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. The casting is an amalgamation of parts of two firebacks of the same design, the bottom portion from an earlier casting than the top (reduction 2%). The inscription translates as 'God is our strength'.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- British 'Dutch' style firebacks
- Welsh inscription series
-
931
Description: Carved wooden fireback pattern. Arched rectangular shaped central panel with top corners cavetto canted, bead-and-pellet edging on a wide fillet; hanging drapery with central tassels over three low-arched cubicles, the two outer smaller than the centre, with Tuscan columns and overlapping scales behind; on a plinth of overlapping scales with a scallop shell behind, the standing figure of Neptune/Poseidon, holding a trident in his right hand; water issues from by his feet and from the waves below him disport two 'sea horses' and three dolphins; arched rectangular shaped border with top corners cavetto canted, fillet edging: suspended symmetrical beads with tassel ends decorated with sea shells; at the bottom, between looped 'W' figures, the inscription separating halves of the date along the bottom; above, a central scallop shell with symmetrical floral scrolls on each side. Two vertical planklines left and right of centre.
Notes: Carved on three vertical oak planks, battened together, from a design in 'Nouveaux livres de ...Statues [etc.]' (La Haye & Amsterdam 1702-5), by Daniel Marot. The inscription, translated from the Welsh as 'GOD is our strength', is a paraphrase of Psalm 46: 1; an identical inscription and date is found on several firebacks. All incorporate the looped 'W' motif which may be intended to identify the pattern maker. A casting made from this pattern is no. 271.
Inscription: 17 DVW Ydyw Ein Cadernid 24
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- pictorial
- mythological
- architectural
- text
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in 1724 in England.
Current location: Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Museum number: 35437 (part of the Museum Rotterdam museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1724 series
- Welsh inscription series
- Patterns