Firebacks

Date & initials firebacks

159 results

  1. 1223

    west_peckham,_haven_hall.jpg
    775 x 575 mm

    Description: Rectangular; no edging; top centre, inscription, FF, and date, 1732, separated by a small saltire.

    Notes: The possibility exists that the initials are those of Francis Fairburn, whose descendants are known to have occupied the house where it lies.

    Inscription: FFx1732

    Manufactured: in 1732 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, West Peckham, Kent, England.

  2. 1071

    westbury_on severn, boseley court.jpg
    1640 x >400 mm

    Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; horizontal line of twisted rope parallel with the top; two vertical lines of twisted rope parallel to the sides; fillet arc inside the corner of the horizontal and vertical lines; each arc encloses 28 (left) or 29 (right) 'daisy heads', with a line of the same stamp around the inside of the lines; in the top corners, the split date; in the top compartment, initials, TH, between 22 hollow saltires, each with a central bead, in a horizontal line, 11 on each side; in each side compartment, at least seven hollow saltires arranged vertically.

    Notes: The fireback is partially sunk into the floor of the hearth, so its height is not known.

    Inscription: 16 TH 99

    Manufactured: in 1699 in the Forest of Dean area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, England.

  3. 879

    westfield,_lankhurst farm 02.jpg
    1215 x 635 mm

    Description: Rectangular; ogee-moulded edging (top and sides); at top, initials in middle, date split between top corners; large letters; straight base to number '8'.

    Notes: The '8' is more typically found with the straight edge at the top.

    Inscription: 16 IF 89

    Manufactured: in 1689 in the Weald area of England.

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

  4. 1055

    wilkinsons_26 feb 2017 lot 272 610x762.jpg
    610 x 762 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with small triangular protrusions in each top corner; fillet edging (top and sides); top centre, date stamp, over-pressed on right side; top corners, single fleur-de-lys stamp; below date, initials in triad.

    Notes: The fleur-de-lys is of a distinctive form; the small triangular protrusions are not seen on other firebacks. Wilkinson's, Doncaster, auction 26 Feb 2017 lot 272. A fireback with the same date stamp is at Newark Park, Ozleworth, Gloucestershire.

    Inscription: 1634 / RCS [triad]

    Manufactured: in 1634 in England.

    Current location:, not known.

  5. 588

    winchester_museum store 01.jpg
    905 x 740 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with semi-circular protrusions at the sides; cavetto-moulded edging; a pheon (a downward-pointing arrow head barbed on the inner edge) within a wreath, an earl’s coronet above; the date on either side of the coronet; the initials on left and right sides; a fleur de lys in each bottom corner.

    Notes: The detail of the wreath differs from that on the 1626 plate.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 16 30 / R L

    Manufactured: in 1630 possibly at Robertsbridge Furnace, Salehurst in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Winchester Museums Store, Unit F2, Bar End Industrial Estate, Winchester, Hampshire, Winchester, Hampshire, England.

    Museum number: WINCM:LH 5704 (part of the Winchester Museums museum group)

  6. 802

    witley,_rake manor.jpg
    1048 x 940 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped; astragal edging (top and sides); mainly symmetrical vine arrangement, emerging from a vase, some fronds ending in an eagle’s head, other in leaves; at top of arch, initials ‘HB’ split by date (reversed) with an additional ‘I’; below, initials ‘AIS’ (reversed).

    Notes: Two planklines; ‘HB’ refers to Henry Bell, who acquired Rake Manor, Witley, in 1592. ‘AIS’ refers to Anthony Smith, his nephew and heir, and his wife, Joan (née Hore); the form of the date is confused by the addition of an ‘I’, and the somewhat clumsy arrangement of the inscription suggests that it was added to the otherwise foliate pattern priot to casting. The letter 'H' seems to belong to a different character set

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: H I0361B / AIS

    Manufactured: in 1630 possibly at Witley Park Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Rake Manor, Witley, Surrey, England.

    Citation: Giuseppi, M. S., 1903, 'Rake in Witley [etc.]', Surrey Archaeological Collections, 18, pp. 11-60.

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

  7. 1105

    worth,_rowfant house 3.jpg
    ~406 x ~296 mm

    Description: Rectangular shape; cyma recta moulded edging (top and sides); top centre, rose and crown; top right, date; top left, initials, DI (with D reversed); small rose stamp between initials and rose/crown; concentric, rope-patterned roundel below date and below initials, with fleur-de-lys separating each from the rose/crown; below, uneven alternating line of three fleurs and two small rose stamps.

    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. Alleged to have been formally at Rowfant House, Worth, Sussex.

    Inscription: D [reversed] I 1685

    Manufactured: in 1685 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location:, not known.

  8. 1129

    wotton_under edge, wotton auctions 30 apr-1 may lot 1138 600x600.jpg
    600 x 600 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; no edging; date in arch; initials in wide triad below.

    Notes: A rather crudely cast fireback; rivets indicate repair. Wotton Auctions, Wotton-under-Edge, 30 Apr-1 May 2019, lot 1138.

    Inscription: 16 59 / W R [or P] F [triad]

    Manufactured: in 1659 in England.

    Current location:, not known.

  9. 805

    yapton_metal co.jpg
    760 x 510 mm

    Description: Rectangular with canted top corners; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, date formed from a single stamp, over-pressed; monogram below date.

    Notes: Dates formed from a single stamp are uncommon, this series being distinguished by this practice.

    Inscription: 1632 / HPE

    Manufactured: in 1632 in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Yapton Metal Co., Yapton, West Sussex, England.

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