Firebacks

'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks

56 results

  1. 948

    unknown_66 597x813.jpg
    697 x 813 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging; seated, semi-naked female figure, with laurels leaves about her head, holding a bunch of grapes in her raised right hand; she is sitting on a stool; to her right is what appears to be a pile of stones; to her left a vase of tulips with a tree behind; above centre, is the word TERRA (earth - Latin); above is a swag of drapery enclosing a scallop shell; outside the panel is a narrow border of the same shape with fillet edging; the fireback is surmounted by a scallop shell between two outward-facing sea serpents.

    Notes: One of a series of four designs of the classical elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: TERRA

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: not known.

  2. 947

    unknown_71a 600x820.jpg
    600 x 820 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel with bead edging; naked figure of Poseidon/Neptune holding a a trident in his raised left hand, his right arm extended; he is sitting on a bridge over a flowing stream; to his right a merman, half immersed, blows a shell trumpet; above centre, is the word AQUA (water - Latin); above is a swag of drapery enclosing a scallop shell; outside the panel is a narrow border of the same shape with fillet edging; the fireback is surmounted by a scallop shell between two outward-facing sea serpents.

    Notes: One of a series of four designs of the classical elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: AQUA

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: not known.

  3. 726

    va_01.jpg
    660 x 990 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead-on-fillet edging; pictorisl scene of a central cross-shaped pillar entwined with a snake; two pavilions to the left with human figures lying before them; two standing figures to the right, one holding a staff; above, clouds with snakes descending from the sky; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; on each side, descending festoons of fruit entwined with ribbon; at the bottom, a central cartouche between palm fronds; on top, foliate swirls.

    Notes: The scene is an illustration of the plague of serpents visited upon the children of Israel by God (Numbers 21: 6).

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the mid-17th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington & Chelsea, Greater London, England.

    Museum number: 291-1893 (part of the Victoria & Albert Museum museum group)

    Citation: Anon., 2 Dec 1905, 'Old Kent and Sussex Fire-backs', Country Life, pp. 767-768.

  4. 760

    va_36.jpg
    600 x 820 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel; bead-on-fillet edging; wickerwork Garden of Holland (Hollandse Tuin) within which is seated a berobed female figure holding a cap of freedom on the end of a long pole; before her is the crowned heraldic lion of the States General of the Netherlands, clutching a sheaf of arrows in its left front paw; above are the words, Pro Patria; arched rectangular boreder with fillet edging, and foliage draped from the top; on top, a pomegranate to which ascends a serpent on each side, with a further pomegranate on each shoulder of the plate.

    Notes: An overtly patriotic theme with symbols of Dutch nationhood.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: PRO PATRIA

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington & Chelsea, Greater London, England.

    Museum number: M.1411-1926 (part of the Victoria & Albert Museum museum group)

  5. 1140

    va_58.jpg
    610 x 660 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with arch on top; rebated fillet edging; below mirrored putti holding crossed fronds, the figure of St George slaying the dragon; on each side a flame-topped column.

    Notes: The central panel of what would otherwise have been a typical bordered fireback intended for the Dutch market.

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington & Chelsea, London, England.

    Museum number: 797-1899 (part of the Victoria & Albert Museum museum group)

  6. 612

    westland_ltd 9794 840x1190.jpg
    840 x 1190 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with astragal edging; allegorical figure of Peace, her right arm raised and her left hand holding an olive branch, standing amid the weapons of war; above her swags of drapery and fruit enclosing the word, PAX; arched rectangular shaped border with ovolo-moulded egg and dart edging; top centre, lion's face from which issue festoons of fruit and leaves which descend down each side, suspended from rings; at the bottom, a motto scroll bearing the date; on top, the face of a putto between two descending fish.

    Notes: A more-than-usually elaborate border to a typical central panel.

    Inscription: PAX / 16 63

    Manufactured: in 1663 in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: not known.