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911
Description: Plain rectangular plate; no edging; top centre, date with '7' reversed; below date, initials in triad.
Notes: The reversed '7' indicates that the numerals, and probably the letters, had no backing; the initials are probably those of a husband and wife whose surname began with 'H'.
Inscription: 1676 / BHM
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1676 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Crowhurst, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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1011
Description: Rectangular shape with cavetto-moulded edging; top centre, initials in triad with date below; on each side, stamp formed of a small, wavy-arched rectangular fireback bearing a lion rampant between pilasters surmounted by burning cauldrons, beneath two mirrored putti holding branches; beneath the date, a stamp formed of a small arched-rectangular fireback laid on its left side with a burning cauldron on each shoulder and the faint figure of a bird in the centre.
Notes: The two identical fireback stamps on either side of the inscription have been noted elsewhere (see no. 210 Late Pictorial series 5); the centre and right fireback stamps have been impressed insufficiently; illustration from Country Life advertisement by T. Crowther & Son Ltd, 18 Oct 1984.
Inscription: TFE / 1701
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- composite
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- pictorial
- architectural
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in 1701 in England.
Current location:.
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340
Description: Arched rectangular shape; gadrooned edging (top and sides); initials, in separate stamps, at top of arch; date in separate stamps, split by central spindle, below; two different spindles used as stamps, one centrally between splitting initial stamps, the other repeated twice on each side, slightly lower; above each spindle a fleur-de-lys stamp.
Notes: The same base board was been used for other firebacks dating from 1622 and 1632, and the central spindle can be be seen on another firenback of 1644. Purchased by J. H. Every at Bigges Farm, Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1918.
Inscription: W B / 16 44
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1644 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Hughes, G. B., 21 April 1955, 'Old English Firebacks', Country Life, 117, pp. 1056-60.
Citation: Hughes, G. B., May 1940, 'Old English Firebacks', Apollo, 31, 185, pp. 117-120.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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47
Description: Rectangular with canted top corners; ovolo-moulded edging (except base); top centre, cherub face and wings; below, date separated by initials in triad on either side of which a stag statant on a chapeau.
Notes: The cherub is similar, but not identical to those on a fireback, of 1713, from Ashburnham, and the layout and edging are also similar.
Inscription: 17 ICI [triad] 30
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in 1730 possibly at Ashburnham Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
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273
Description: Rectangular with twisted rope edging top and sides; central arch with twisted rope edging; date in arch (8 with flattened top); initials repeated in top corners.
Notes: An unusually large plate to have such simple decoration.
Inscription: 1648 / TK TK
- Decoration tags:
- arched rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1648 in England.
Current location: in private hands, Dorton, Buckinghamshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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291
Description: Rectangular; astragal with cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); date top centre; initials evenly-spaced below date; low-relief fleur de lys stamp repeated three times down each side, and in triangular arrangement below initials.
Notes: The initials may relate to William Boevey who was owner of Flaxley furnace from 1683-92. Another fireback with the same date and initials, and fewer fleurs, is also known. Formerly at Flaxley Abbey, Gloucestershire. Dreweatts Auctiuoneers, Newbury, 3 Oct 2022, lot 183 (£240).
Inscription: 1685 / W B
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- astragal with cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1685 at Flaxley Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:, England.
Citation: Bick, D. E. [incorrectly printed as Bick, R.], Sept 1985, 'Firebacks', Period Homes, pp. 21-4.
- Attached to series:
- Boevey series
- Date & initials firebacks
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1177
? x ? mmImage subject to copyrightDescription: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, inscription 'C1630C'.
Notes: In the inscription, the letter 'C' may have been formed from a horseshoe. The fireback was discovered in 1959 at the works of Samuel Lewis & Co. Ltd. at Netherton, Worcestershire. It has been suggested that it was probably made by Walter Chetwynd, tenant of the ironworks at Cannockwood in Staffordshire who is mentioned as such in accounts of 1636 and 1637 made by Roger Jones received for William, Lord Paget of Beaudesert, the owner of the works.
Inscription: C1630C
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
Manufactured: in 1630 possibly in the Cannock Chase area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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1107
Description: Rectangular shape; ovolo edging (top and sides); top centre, date between two fleurs-de-lys; below, initials spaced apart.
Notes: A small fireback, probably for an upstairs fireplace. Formerly at Cothay Manor, Wellington, Somerset. Auction: Duke's, Dorchester, 7 Sep 2018 lot 585 (£360).
Inscription: 1626 / N M
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1626 in England.
Current location: in private hands, Wigmore, Herefordshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
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55
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; ‘daisy’ plant stamp in top corners, and at outer end of top panel enclosing two, opposite facing, lion passant stamps with date between; swirling foliage stamp repeated in each side panel above initial, I to left, B to right; stamp of ‘Indian’ smoking a pipe in top left of central panel, stamp of seated ‘gentleman’ smoking a pipe and holding another, at top right.
Notes: The 'daisy' stamp and the IB initials are identical to those on similar firebacks dated between 1703 and 1721, and probably indicating the same founder. The use of stamps relating to tobacco smoking may suggest an origin near Bristol, the main entry port for the tobacco trade at that time. Lent to Dyrham Park by the late John Workman OBE, of Sheepscombe, Gloucs. in 1963, and given in 1996.
Inscription: 1708 / I B
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- humans
- plants
Manufactured: in 1708 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Dyrham Park, Dyrham, Gloucestershire, England.
Museum number: NT/DYR/M/5 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- IB series
- Date & initials firebacks
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1012
Description: Canted rectangle with twisted rope edging (top and sides); rope line separating rectangle from trapezoidal section, which is, in turn, separated by rope lines into a central rectangle containing a rebated lozenge stamp beneath the date (reversed), and two mirrored triangles each containing what appear to be mirrored stamps of a bird, possibly a partridge, and an initial; both the initials and the date are reversed.
Notes: Reversal of numerals and letters is not uncommon on firebacks.
Inscription: E [or] F 16 04 C
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1604 possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Eschbaecher, J., 22 Jan 1959, 'Why in reverse?' [letter], Country Life, p. 153.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks