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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 (q.v.); it may originate in the Cuckfield area of Sussex, where most examples have been noted; illustration from book. Noted at West Riddens Farm, Ansty, near Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1906.
Inscription: S WC / 16 22
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved pattern panels
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1622 possibly at Cuckfield furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
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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897
Description: Steeply canted rectangle; no edging; upper centre, square formed of twisted rope lengths inside which are what appear to be two lions passant in pale with a circle and two short sloping lines in inverted V form above; on either side of the square is an O and an R; below the square three lengths of twisted rope extend to the bottom edge, the central one vertically and the the outer two sloping away from the centre; along the bottom is the date, each numeral separated by one of the rope lengths.
Notes: Alleged to be a representation of the arms of the O'Rourke family, who held sway in Cavan and Leitrim, the initials said to be of Owen O'Rourke. Noted in a cottage at Arigna, County Roscommon.
Inscription: O O R / 1 6 8 8
Arms: O'Rourke
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1688 possibly at Drumshanbo furnace in the Leitrim area of Ireland.
Current location:.
Citation: Lindsay, J. S., 1927, Iron & Brass Implements of the English House (London, The Medici Society).
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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14
Description: Arched rectangular shape; plain plate. Crowned capital ‘A’ between ‘W’ and ‘R’; divided date at top extremities of plate; single six-pointed star below ‘A’.
Notes: Earl’s coronet denotes the Earl of Ashburnham, furnace owner; ‘WR’ denotes William Rummins, furnace founder; 1813 - the furnace was blown out finally in late February 1813. Similar to, but narrower than the fireback at Church Farm, Penhurst (in private hands), and uses the same cipher and numbers. One of a small series of firebacks cast in the early-19th century for farms on the Ashburnham estate; this example was formerly at Great Sprays Farm, Penhurst.
Inscription: W A R / 18 13
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1813 at Ashburnham furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Ashburnham, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Ashburnham late series
- Date & initials firebacks
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603
Description: Arched rectangular shaped, the arch linked to the rectangle by cavetto curves; cavetto edging ending in two opposed spirals at top; initials below spirals; date below initials; otherwise plain.
Notes: Probably cast from a carved, edged board, with the initials and date added separately. A copy.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IH / 1678
- Decoration tags:
- cavetto arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1678 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Small arch series
- Date & initials firebacks
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201
Description: Rectangular; moulded fillet edging on top and sides; TCI, also arranged symmetrically, in a widely spaced triad; below, symmetrical layout of central rose and crown between two concentric roundels, with two fleurs-de-lys outside.
Notes: The style of rose and crown is similar to that used in gun founding in the Tudor period, suggesting that the furnace that was the source of this fireback may have been used for that purpose. Formerly at Baynards Park, Cranleigh, Surrey.
Inscription: 16 T C I [triad] 70
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- complex, furniture-derived (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1670 in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
- Date & initials firebacks
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1142
Description: Arched rectangular shape with quadrant extensions on top corners; twisted rope edging (top and sides); vertical rope line parallel to each side, forming two separate side panels; horizontal rope line joined to vertical lines enclosing the following: inside arch, initials IBA in triad; below initials, double fleur-de-lys stamp between split date; below horizontal line, a double fleur stamp in each top corner of central lower panel; in each side panel, a single bead above a vertical sequence of squared cross stamps repeated eight times.
Notes: The distinctive squared cross and fleur stamps are seen on other firebacks; the initials in triad may relate to a husband and wife. A taller variant of the same fireback is at Northgate House, Warwick. Mendip Auctions, Binegar, Somerset, 7 Sep 2019, lot 374.
Inscription: IBA [triad] / 16 93
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular with corner quadrants (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
Manufactured: in 1693 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:, England.
- Attached to series:
- Square cross Dean series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Newent area group
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878
Description: Cavetto-canted arched rectangle; twisted rope edging, separately around rectangle and arch; initials 'R' and 'H' in upper left and right corners of rectangle; 'M' above date in arch.
Notes: The arch does not appear to have been a separate stamp, although the rope edging gives that impression; the initials, in triad, suggest a husband and wife - R.. and H.. M..
Inscription: M / 1654 / / R H
- Decoration tags:
- cavetto-canted arched rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1654 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Birling, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
875
Description: Canted rectangle; double fillet edging (top and sides); repeated 'X' stamp parallel to edging, horizontally across centre, and in two parallel lines from top to centre, dividing top half of plate into three sections; 'daisy' stamp approximately in middle of top left and right sections, repeated four times in triad in top middle section, and thrice along top of bottom section; small roundel stamp repeated 3-3-1 in top left section, and 3-1-3-1 in top right section; date split between top left and right sections; initials split in top centre section.
Notes: An arrangement with several elements likely to have been repeated on other firebacks.
Inscription: 16 D[reversed] B 81
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- double fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1681 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
Museum number: 222490 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Newent area group
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
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218
Description: Rectangular; cyma recta moulded edging formed of short lengths probably derived from furniture; top left, initials arranged in triad; top right, date; top centre, rose-and-crown between two small fleurs de lys, with two concentric rope-patterned roundels outside, above two small roses; four roses evenly spaced across lower middle, with a fleur between each outer pair, and another rose below the date.
Notes: One of a series of firebacks cast between the 1670s and 1690s bearing small, simple stamps, initials and dates; the style of rose and crown is similar to that used in gun founding in the Tudor period, suggesting that the furnace that was the source of this fireback may have been used for that purpose.
Inscription: HEM [triad] 1685
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- complex, furniture-derived (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- royal
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1685 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: R3341/2 (part of the Brighton Museum museum group)
Citation: Lindsay, J. S., 1927, Iron & Brass Implements of the English House (London, The Medici Society).
- Attached to series:
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Fleur-de-lys stamp types
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1088
Description: Canted rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); across the top, double star stamp repeated nine times; below and top centre, date between initials in triad; below date, large hollow fleur-de-lys stamp repeated three times in a line between two triads of stylised fleur-de-lys stamps, with one of the same stamps in each bottom corner; lower centre, woodblock stamp repeated three times in a line.
Notes: The initials 'IIA' in triad probably relate to a couple whose surname initial was 'I'; a fireback, dated 1659, with some of the same stamps is at the Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley, Gloucestershire, and another, dated 1667, has been noted at Upper End Farm, Hope Mansell, Herefordshire. Brightwells Auctioneers, Leominster, 27 Jul 2016, lot 694.
Inscription: IIA [triad] 1668 IIA [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1668 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:, England.
- Attached to series:
- Hollow fleur Dean series
- Newent area group
- Date & initials firebacks