Firebacks

Description: Canted rectangular shape; edging formed of lengths of cross-cut dowel (top and sides); inscription across upper centre probably formed of thumb prints; the last digit of the date may be an incomplete 5 rotated left.

Notes: A crudely executed fireback; the cross-cut dowel used for the edging has not been noted on any other fireback.

Inscription: 16 wo 15[?]

Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top left, date 1622; top right, initials T H.

Notes: The surface excrescences on the lower half of the fireback are likely to have resulted from the displacement of the casting sand by the pouring of the iron. Formerly at Marden Hill House, Tewin, Hertfordshire. There is no basis for the suggestion by Hertford Museum that this fireback might have been cast by a Thomas Hogge.

Inscription: 1622 T H

Description: Rectangular shape; no edging; upper centre, initials 'HI'; lower centre, date '1795'.

Notes: Simple design with bold, well-carved characters.

Inscription: H I / 1795

Description: Rectangular with rebated top corners; ovolo moulded edging (top and sides); topcentre, date above initials.

Notes: The rebated corners are an unusual feature.

Inscription: 1653 / T · L ·C

Description: Arched rectangular shape; no edging; initials evenly spaced around arch; date split between top corners.

Inscription: W S / 18 24

Description: Rectangle; no edging; date just above centre; initials above date.

Notes: The disparity between the quality of the stamping of the date and initials may be because the date has been stamped from a single block. There are stylistic similarities with the memorial plate to John and Ann Luck, dated 1771, in Wadhurst church porch, Sussex.

Inscription: I H / 1776

Description: Rectangular shape; no edging; top left, inverted 'renaissance' shield with the initials M above IE; top right, date 1671 in unseriffed numerals.

Notes: The shield with initials has not been noted on another fireback. The slots in the fireback are to accommodate andirons or firedogs.

Inscription: IME [triad] 1671

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging; inscription across top of plate, numerals, except '2', larger than letters, 'A' raised above 'I' and 'M'.

Notes: A late, and rather unsophisticated example of the use of individual stamps.

Inscription: 17 IAM 32

Description: Fragment; bottom left corner missing; rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging; initials split by date across top of plate.

Notes: The numerals show the transition between archaic and modern type styles. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

Inscription: S 1753 W

Description: Rectangular with three arches; twisted rope edging (top and sides); in each of the two outer arches, initials 'WKE' in triad; in the central arch, which is higher than the two outer ones and bordered at the base by twisted rope, the date 1630.

Notes: The triple arched form is unusual. The initials are presumed to refer to a husband and wife whose surname began with 'K'

Inscription: 1630 / WKE [triad] WKE [triad]