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937
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gadrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date probably in separate stamps, below, split by spindle; spindle used as a stamp repeated three times, one between date and initial stamps, the other two below to left and right.
Notes: Makes use of the same backing board as other firebacks in this series, and is possibly a variant of another fireback of the same date and with the same three spindles but with other initials (no. 299); it may originate in the Cuckfield area of Sussex, where most examples have been noted; illustration from Harper (1906). Previously at Riddens (now West Riddens) Farm, Ansty, near Cuckfield, Sussex.
Inscription: S WC / 16 22
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1622 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Harper, C. G., 1906, The Brighton Road (London, Chapman & Hall), p. 391.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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340
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gadrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date in separate stamps, split by central spindle, below; two different spindles used as stamps, one centrally between splitting initial stamps, the other repeated twice on each side, slightly lower; above each spindle a fleur-de-lys stamp.
Notes: It is possible that the initials were intended to be 'BW' but that it was forgotten that they needed to be reversed when impressed into the mould. The same base board has been used for other firebacks dating from 1622 and 1632, and the central spindle can be be seen on another fireback of 1644. Purchased by J. H. Every at Bigges Farm, Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1918.
Inscription: W B / 16 44
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1644 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Hughes, G. B., 21 Apr 1955, 'Old English Firebacks', Country Life, 117, pp. 1056-60.
Citation: Hughes, G. B., May 1940, 'Old English Firebacks', Apollo, 31, 185, pp. 117-120.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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45
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded, gadrooned edging (top and sides); a vertical spindle or chair leg surmounted by a fleur-de-lys arranged three times; the date split by the middle fleur-de-lys.
Notes: The fleur-de-lys is separately stamped from the spindle, and the same spindle is seen on another fireback of the same date.
Inscription: 1641
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1641 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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1284
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gadrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date probably in separate stamps, below; spindle used as a stamp repeated three times, one between date and initial stamps, the other two below to left and right.
Notes: The same base board and spindle have been used for other firebacks of the same period. A similar casting (no. 299) has the 'W' in a slightly different position. Formerly at Warnham Court, Sussex.
Inscription: I W / 16 22
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1622 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: not known.
Citation: Gardner, J. S., 1898, 'Iron Casting in the Weald', Archaeologia, 56, 1, pp. 133-164.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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1285
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded, gadrooned edging (top and sides); lower centre, a vertical spindle between two vertical spindles of a different form each surmounted by a fleur-de-lys; the date split by the top of the middle spindle; the initials above the first two and last two figures of the date.
Notes: The gadrooned style of edging is a distinctive feature of this group of firebacks, the style of fleur-de-lys being observed on two other backs within the group.
Inscription: I B / 1 6 5 0
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1650 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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299
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gadrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date probably in separate stamps, below; spindle used as a stamp repeated three times, one between date and initial stamps, the other two below to left and right.
Notes: The same base board and spindle have been used for other firebacks of the same period. A similar casting (no. 1284) has the 'W' in a slightly different position.
Inscription: I W / 16 22
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1622 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Gwydir Castle, Trefriw, Conwy, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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153
Description: Arched rectangular; gadrooned edging (top and sides); three spondles as stamps - one centre top, and a different one on each side to left and right of arch base - initials and date split either side of top spimdle.
Notes: The distinctive edging and use of spindles or bobbins is seen on other firebacks; similar initials and date suggest a common source; the initials may relate to John Weston, of Warnham, Sussex (d. 1642). A rectangular fireback of the same date and also with three identical spindles is at Ewhurst Place, Ifield.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: I W / 16 32
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- date stamp
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1632 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Warnham, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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1061
Description: Triple-facetted arched rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); bottom centre, a vertical distaff or spindle repeated twice; to each side a fillet-edged oval containing the initials S and W; above, either side of the distaffs, two more ovals perpendicular to the first two, with the date split between them; above each distaff, an oval rotated as at the bottom, the initials I T split between them; at the base, a blank rectangular panel.
Notes: An unusual shaped fireback. It was recorded by J. Starkie Gardner in one of his scrapbooks (Victoria and Albert Museum, Archive of Art and Design (AAD/2014/8)), marked '[?]Warris Westerham Kent'; subsequently it was at Skipreed, Chiddingstone Hoath, Kent.
Inscription: I T / 16 63 / S W
- Decoration tags:
- triple-facetted arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1663 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:, not known.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Spindle/distaff firebacks