-
1035
? x ? mmDescription: Rectangular with furniture-derived mounding (top and sides); double-loop 'lens' pattern stamp repeated inside the moulded edging nine times along the top and three times down each side; top left, initials RBD in triad; right of top centre, date 1602; top right, initials RB split between two repeated dog stamps; four other dog stamps in pairs below, and one below date; becapped human figure stamp, with his left arm raised to his head and his right arm akimbo, repeated four times below initial triad and two singly, one below lone dog stamp and one centre right; top centre, stamp of a crest formed of a stag 'lodged' (i.e. sitting) upon a wreath, in this instance only with pseudo legs drawn below, also repeated six times in two rows of three left of lower centre, with one to the left of the six; 'renaissance' shield bearing an 'IE' monogram with continuous loop between the letters, repeated lower left and right with a third bottom centre impressed partially over the centremost stag crest.
Notes: Acquired in 1900 by Sir Spencer Maryon-Wilson for Charlton House (Country Life, 23 April 1904, from whence has come the illustration); several of the stamps have been noted on two other firebacks, both dated 1617, and suggesting by their location an origin in the Horsham area of the Weald.
Inscription: R B D [triad] 1602 R T / IE IE / IE
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- furniture moulding (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- monogram
- text
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in 1602 in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Gardner, J. S., 30 Apr 1904, 'An old fire-back' (letter), Country Life, p. 647.
Citation: S. M. W. [Spencer Maryon-Wilson], 23 Apr 1904, 'An old fireback' [letter], Country Life, p. 611.
Citation: Shuffrey, L. A., 1912, The English Fireplace, London, Batsford.
- Attached to series:
- Loop stamp (late) series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Figurine firebacks
-
968
Description: Rectangular; truncated egg and dart moulded edging on top and left side; top right of centre, date in individual over-pressed stamps; initials in over-pressed stamps centred below date.
Notes: A rare use of egg and dart moulding used as separate edging, presumably derived from redundant domestic moulding or furniture.
Inscription: 1637 / H V
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- egg and dart (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1637 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cowden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
969
Description: Cavetto-canted rectangular shape; astragal edging (top and sides); letters in triad between separated date.
Notes: The distinctive style of the lettering may indicate a common source with another fireback of 1728.
Inscription: 17 TRS 31
- Decoration tags:
- cavetto-canted rectangular (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1731 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cowden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
887
Description: Rectangular; stepped fillet edging (top and sides), ending short of bottom of plate; rose and crown stamp repeated three times across top of plate, with initials 'IT' followed by a rose stamp to left, and a rose stamp followed by the date to right (1 or I crossed in both cases); concentric roundel stamp between each pair of rose and crown stamps; lower down, five small fleurs-de-lys between four concentric roundels; below left, initials FED in triad; below right, FRD in triad (D reversed).
Notes: An alleged connection with the Tichborne family who lived at Crippenden in Cowden, Kent, may be justified if the initials, IT, refer to John Tichborne, the last of his family in the village, who died in 1708. The identities of those whose initials form the two triads is not known. 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: IT 1699 / EFD [triad] RFD [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- stepped fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1699 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Crippenden Manor, Cowden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
- Date & initials firebacks
-
38
Description: Rectangular; fillet and astragal edging; initials between date in one horizontal line, upper half of plate.
Inscription: 16 ES 57
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- astragal & fillet (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1657 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Cowfold Cottage Tandoori, Cowfold, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
1210
Description: Individually designed quasi-arched rectangular shape; astragal edging; central portico with framed doorway and sloping roof, in which stands a male figure dressed in contemporary style; above the roof, the date, and above that, the initials TKM arranged in triad and around a flower head, this inscription enclosed within a five-sided ribbon compartment held at the top corners by a pair of mirrored dancing cherubs each of which holds in their outer hand a wand surmounted by a fleur-de-lys; below them are mirrored vine designs terminating in a grape bunch, and below each of them a mirrored swirled snake, its head reversed; towards the outer side of these snakes are a pair of mirrored birds within a curved cartouche of slightly raised relief that is associated with a swirl on each side of the fireback that terminates the astragal edging on each side and which ascends via a step surmounted by a miniature urn on each shoulder of the back to the top which is surmounted by an acorn shape; above the ribbons held by the cherubs, is a stylised crown between the initials AR; the above features are limited by a horizontal astragal, though the portico descends below it, and which is supported at each end by a simple Doric column enclosing the bottom panel which is otherwise plain.
Notes: The initials AR are of Anna Regina - Queen Anne. Finely cast but of naïve design, another fireback of the same design but with different inscriptions and dated 1723 is Bowness on Windermere. Illustration from Cowper, 1899, p.179.
Inscription: A R / TKM [triad] / 1714
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular with extensions (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- mythological
- text
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in 1714 possibly at Backbarrow Furnace in the Furness area of England.
Current location: Low Graythwaite, Hawkshead, Cumbria, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Rawlinson series
-
1039
Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides) in short lengths; top centre, initials above date.
Notes: The initials are likely to be those of Richard Holden, clothier of Cranbrook, who inherited Branden near Sissinghurst in 1623 and who was living there in 1659.
Inscription: RH / 1659
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1659 probably at Biddenden Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cranbrook, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
884
Description: Canted rectangle; stepped fillet edging (top and sides); twisted rope lengths parallel to top and parallel to each side, forming six compartments; side compartments: seven double fleurs-de-lys in vertical line; top corner compartments: one double fleur-de-lys angled parallel to canting; top compartment: date in centre, initials repeated at each end, three fleurs between date and initials, centre fleur perpendicular to others; main compartment: one fleur in each top corner, line of beads inside rope line, semi-circular at corners.
Notes: The arc shape and use of repeated beads suggests a common source with other firebacks of the same period.
Inscription: RR / 1688 / RR
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- stepped fillet (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1688 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: The George Hotel, Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Square cross Dean series
- Date & initials firebacks
- Newent area group
-
39
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shaped with cavetto canted top corners; fillet edging; two V-shaped arrangements of laths, one inverted and superimposed over the other, in centre of plate; date split on either side; initials in triangular arrangement above laths.
Notes: The shape of the fireback is very similar to firebacks at Knole, Sevenoaks, of similar date, and may be the product of the same furnace; the 'X' shapes may have apotropaic significance.
Inscription: 17 RSL 28
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- apotropaic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1728 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Cranbrook Museum, Cranbrook, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
1112
Description: Canted rectangular shape; individual moulded edging; centre, initials WB, above date.
Notes: The text appears to have been imprinted into a mould formed from a base panel.
Inscription: WB / 1697
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1697 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Crowborough, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks