-
444
Description: Rectangular; top and side edging formed from the repeated stamping of a short length of twisted rope; three gothic panels arranged horizontally, the centre one wider than the other two, each panel a symmetrical arrangement of tracery patterns with an inverted ogee arch on top incorporating two flowers; a separate fleur-de-lys stamp has been repeated above each panel.
Notes: The panels were probably derived from a dismantled wooden chest or hutch table, c.1500. Their gothic style belies the probable age of the fireback, such chests already being old when their parts might have been re-used. The same panels are on a fireback at Nymans, Handcross.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved pattern panels
- architectural
- objects
Manufactured: in the early to mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: East Grinstead Museum, East Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.796 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Butterfield, W. R., 1916, 'Old Wealden Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 46, pp. 197-209.
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Gothic panel series
- Furniture stamp firebacks
-
447
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1732 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.950 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
448
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); fleur de lys arranged in a pattern of 20, in three rows: 7-6-7.
Notes: A type of fleur-de-lys used on firebacks possibly cast at Pounsley Furnace.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century possibly at Pounsley furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hall Place, Bexley, Kent, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.039 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
-
450
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; central crowned Tudor shield with lion passant guardant sinister to the left, and lion passant to right; four-petalled rose in right and left corners; crowned, barbed, four-petalled rose below shield.
Notes: One of a large series bearing some or all of the same stamps.
Arms: Tudor royal arms of England
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- armorial
- animals
Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Barbican House, High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.800 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Royal series
-
451
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); basic arrangement of crowned Tudor rose above a crowned Tudor royal shield, all between a crowned lion passant guardant sinister and lion passant, both per bend, repeated on both halves of the plate; irregularly arranged, mainly along the top and bottom, are sixteen small figures, alternately with right arm raised or lowered; bottom left and centre right are two different arrangements of a length of twisted rope in 'V' and 'I'.
Notes: The stamps used on this large fireback are encountered on several firebacks indicating their common source; previously at Legh Manor, Cuckfield, Sussex.
Arms: Tudor royal arms of England
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- armorial
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.937 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Royal series
-
453
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; irregular arrangement of three rope lengths at top left; rope cross above ‘V’ at middle bottom; impression of a pair of scissors between two impressions of a domestic table knife.
Notes: The knife is early-17th century in date or perhaps a bit earlier, just into Elizabeth I’s reign. The pommels date them from around this time and the long and narrow blades are right for the end of Elizabeth/early James I. The irregular rope lengths suggest this is probably part of a larger fireback.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 16th to early 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.939 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Moore, S., 1999, Cutlery for the Table (Sheffield, The Hallamshire Press).
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Rope design firebacks
-
457
Description: Fragment; right part, prob. rectangular; twisted strip edging (top and sides); stamp of firedog with semi-circular feet, and with shields at top and bottom of shaft, the lower with quartered arms, the upper with diagonal bar over a rectangle (gate?); horizontal twisted strip length to left of firedog.
Notes: The twisted lengths clearly show the flattened form of a strip of material (poss. leather).
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- twisted leather (edging)
- simple stamps
- objects
Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.914 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Firedog stamp firebacks
-
458
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
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1753 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.922 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
1050
Description: Rectangular; triple-moulded edging (top and sides); top left, initials RKI in triad; top right, date.
Notes: The initials probably relate to a husband and wife, the top initial being that of their surname. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
Inscription: RKI [triad] 1683
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- complex, furniture-derived (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1683 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.921 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 1660s-90s Wealden series
- Date & initials firebacks
-
1053
Description: Rectangular; cyma curve and fillet edging; crowned Tudor rose within a pediment resting on Tuscan pilasters and pedestals; faint impression of a shield bearing a lion rampant repeated in each top corner.
Notes: The width of this fireback may indicate that another fireback in this series was used as its pattern and the shields added before casting.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cyma curve and fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- architectural
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the mid to late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.954 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Pedimented rose and crown series