Firebacks

Date & initials firebacks

163 results

  1. 504

    northchapel,_brookside house.jpg
    770 x 535 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); along upper half of plate, date split with initials in between.

    Notes: The initials are likely to be those of William Yalden (d.1674), an ironmaster who was active in north-west Sussex and south-west Surrey where this and other similar firebacks have been noted.

    Inscription: 16 WY 68

    Manufactured: in 1668 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Northchapel, West Sussex, England.

  2. 505

    ockley,_yew tree cottage.jpg
    940 x 600 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); inscription (‘S’ reversed) across upper middle of plate, with superscripted central ‘I’ (crossed) ; below each part of the date is a twisted rope saltire (145mm lengths).

    Notes: A personal fireback, made to order; a similar commission by Giles Moore, Rector of Horsted Keynes, Sussex, in 1657, cost 13 shillings.

    Inscription: I / 16 E S 63

    Manufactured: in 1663 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Ockley, Surrey, England.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  3. 1141

    ozleworth,_newark park.jpg
    740 x 730 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); date stamp, 1634, in arch; initials, EH, separated by a cross, below date.

    Notes: The same date stamp has been noted on another fireback; the cross between the initials may have an apotropaic purpose.

    Inscription: 1634 /E + H

    Manufactured: in 1634 in England.

    Current location: Newark Park, Ozleworth, Gloucestershire, England.

    (part of the National Trust museum group)

  4. 1294

    parham_005.jpg
    757 x 440 mm

    Description: Rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides only); top left, initials IL and top right, 1697.

    Notes: The style of lettering and numerals indicate that this is a casting from a larger group produced between the late-1660s and late 1690s.

    Inscription: IL 1697

    Manufactured: in 1697 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Parham House, Parham, West Sussex, England.

  5. 508

    penhurst_church farm 01.jpg
    1680 x 950 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; no edging; top centre, crowned capital ‘A’; date divided at top corners of plate; single six-pointed star outside date.

    Notes: Earl’s coronet denotes the Earl of Ashburnham, furnace owner; the furnace was blown out for the last time in late February 1813, this fireback being reputedly the last casting from a Wealden furnace. One of a small series of firebacks cast in the early-19th century for farms on the Ashburnham estate.

    Inscription: * 18 A 13 *

    Manufactured: in 1813 at Ashburnham Furnace in the Weald area of England.

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

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  6. 513

    penshurst_04.jpg
    1345 x 605 mm

    Description: Rectangular; complex (astragal & fillet/cavetto) moulded edging; initials across top, between split date.

    Inscription: 16 WSG 98 [‘S’ reversed]

    Manufactured: in 1698 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent, England.

  7. 514

    penshurst_05.jpg
    805 x 630 mm

    Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); inscription along top of plate.

    Notes: The initials may relate to Robert, 2nd Earl of Leicester.

    Inscription: R · 1647 · L

    Manufactured: in 1647 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent, England.

  8. 517

    penshurst_08.jpg
    1515 x 720 mm

    Description: Rectangular; ogee within broad fillet moulded edging; top centre, date between split initials, with small diamonds between date and initials and outside initials.

    Inscription: T 1665 S

    Manufactured: in 1665 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent, England.

  9. 910

    pimlico,_gifford mead 06a.jpg
    762 x 508 mm

    Description: Canted rectangle; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); single horizontal fillet below canted corners and vertical fillet parallel to each side, dividing the fireback into two side panels, two top corner panels, top panel and main central panel; corner panels, ‘daisy’ plant stamp; top panel, central initials between split date, separated by 'daisy' stamps; side panels, swirling foliage stamp repeated each side, initial at bottom of panel: I to the left, B to the right.

    Notes: The 'daisy' stamp and IB initials are identical to those on similar firebacks dated to between 1703 and 1721, probably indicating the same founder. Christie's Interiors - Masters & Makers (Sale 5462), South Kensington, London, 8 July 2014, lot 126 (£688).

    Inscription: 17 IS 07 / I B

    Manufactured: in 1707 in the Forest of Dean area of England.

    Current location: not known.

  10. 978

    pimlico,_gifford mead 07.jpg
    756 x 737 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging with inaccurately parallel arched rectangular fillet inside, enclosing repeated small fleur-de-lys stamps along sides and top; initials in triad in each of the internal top corners; date in arch.

    Notes: The initials probably relate to a couple whose surname begins with C, the husband's forename initial being R and the wife's I (or J).

    Inscription: RCI/ 1675 / RCI

    Manufactured: in 1675 in England.

    Current location: not known.