Firebacks

Date & initials firebacks

159 results

  1. 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)

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 1096

    ripe,_manor house.jpg
    1430 x 750 mm

    Description: Rectangular shape; ogee/cyma reversa moulded edging (top and sides); top centre, shield-shaped stamp bearing initials above date.

    Notes: Two blemishes on the surface of the casting indicate that the molten iron was probably poured from two ladles simultaneously disturbing the casting sand in both locations.

    Inscription: AE / 1698

    Manufactured: in 1698 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: The Manor House, Mark Cross Lane, Ripe, East Sussex, England.

    Citation: Wolseley, F. G. (Viscountess), 2008, Historic Houses of East Sussex and their Owners (Bakewell, Country Books), pp. 259-264.

    Citation: Wolseley, F. G. (Viscountess), Nov 1934, 'Historic Houses of Sussex, No. 86, The Manor House, Ripe', Sussex County Magazine, 8, 11, pp. 660-664.

  9. 601

    ripley_007.jpg
    760 x 480 mm

    Description: Rectangular; astragal and fillet moulding on top and side edges; symmetrical layout of date and initials; date split between left and right sides, initials in middle, central letter in line with date, outer letters lower.

    Notes: One of a series of backs dating to the 1730s and 40s using very similar sets of letters and numerals. K may relate to the surname, while the F and S may relate to the initials of husband and wife respectively. Sold at Christie's Masters and Maker auction, 30 November 2010, lot 521 (part). Mander Auctioneers, Sudbury, Suffolk, 2 Dec 2023, lot 455 (?)

    Inscription: 17 K 38 / F S

    Manufactured: in 1738 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location:, not known.

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

  10. 611

    ripley_023a.jpg
    1360 x 725 mm

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides) with fillet inside; top centre, rose-and-crown between four concentric roundels, two on each side in line, with two more below the inner ones; small fleurs-de-lys in triad below rose-and-crown; top left, initials; top right, date; small rose below date; triad of small roses to right of, and below, initials.

    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. Sold at Christie's Masters and Makers auction, 30 November 2010, lot 524 (£688).

    Inscription: RP 1692

    Manufactured: in 1692 in the Weald area of England.

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