Firebacks

series

  1. 78

    guildford_museum 03.jpg
    715 x 440 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Sub-rectangular; twisted rope edging; lengths of twisted rope arranged to form two 'V' shapes and an 'I' overlapping to forma possible monogram.

    Notes: The 'monogram' comprises different length pieces of rope and may have an apotropaic significance, the double 'V' referring to the Virgin Mary.

    Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Guildford Museum, Guildford, Surrey, England.

    Museum number: G.488 (part of the Guildford Museum museum group)

    Citation: Easton, T. & Hodgkinson, J. S., 2013, 'Apotropaic Symbols on Cast-Iron Firebacks', Jnl. of the Antique Metalware Soc., 21, pp. 14-33.

  2. 85

    hadlow_down antiques 01.jpg
    800 x 510 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; twisted rope arranged to form inscription across upper half of plate.

    Notes: The double 'v' may have an apotropaic significance, invoking the Virgin Mary.

    Inscription: +W+

    Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Hadlow Down, East Sussex, England.

    Citation: Easton, T. & Hodgkinson, J. S., 2013, 'Apotropaic Symbols on Cast-Iron Firebacks', Jnl. of the Antique Metalware Soc., 21, pp. 14-33.

  3. 112

    hastings_003.jpg
    914 x 508 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular with twisted rope edging; straight lengths of rope re-stamped to make longer lengths in the shape of a saltire on each side and a 'V' in the middle.

    Notes: The arrangement of the rope lengths may have an apotropaic significance, a double 'v' alluding to the Virgin Mary.

    Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 952.51.20 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

    Citation: Easton, T. & Hodgkinson, J. S., 2013, 'Apotropaic Symbols on Cast-Iron Firebacks', Jnl. of the Antique Metalware Soc., 21, pp. 14-33.

  4. 115

    hastings_005.jpg
    660 x 405 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Plain rectangular plate with cross formed of a single length of twisted rope placed twice.

    Notes: Despite the simple form, the likely Christian symbolism is very evident.

    Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 952.51.17 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

  5. 124

    hastings_014.jpg
    600 x 440 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, crowned Tudor royal shield; fleur de lys on each side and below; slanting, inverted 'V' of twisted rope on each side of lower fleur.

    Notes: One of a large series of firebacks incorporating Tudor heraldic stamps; the 'V' shapes may have apotropaic significance.

    Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

    Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 904.32 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

  6. 846

    newick,_vuggles.jpg
    955 x 525 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); floriated trefoil stamp repeated in two rows of four in the upper two-thirds of the plate; between the middle four stamps, two small crosses of twisted rope, one above the other; between each outer group of four stamps a large cross of twisted rope.

    Notes: The floriated trefoils may have been derived from a metal ornament.

    Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.

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

  7. 892

    sothebys_08-11-06 1910mm x 590mm.jpg
    910 x 590 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Canted rectangular shape; plain edging with inset ?leather strap twisted round dowel (top and sides); top centre, date probably in stamped numerals; twisted leather strap saltire repeated three times across middle of plate; pair of stamped initials, formed of a Roman 'W' and a Gothic 'd', above each outer saltire.

    Notes: Sotheby's sale London 27 November 2006; formerly at Brunger, Kent (near Tenterden).

    Inscription: 1610 / WD WD

    Manufactured: in 1610 in England.

    Current location:.

  8. 725

    upper_beeding, 1725 cottage.jpg
    890 x 520 mm

    Description: Canted rectangle with twisted rope edging; uneven, individually stamped letters and numerals, the initials separating the two parts of the date, which are raised slightly higher; dots are stamped on each side of each half of the date and between the initials; a twisted rope saltire at each end of the inscription.

    Notes: The plate above the inscription is a repair, as are the rivets either side of the crack.

    Inscription: ·16· M · N ·59·

    Manufactured: in 1659 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Upper Beeding, West Sussex, England.