Firebacks

Description: Rectangular; astragal and fillet moulding on top and side edges; symmetrical layout of date and initials; date split between left and right sides, initials in middle, central letter in line with date, outer letters lower.

Notes: One of a series of backs dating to the 1730s and 40s using very similar sets of letters and numerals. K may relate to the surname, while the F and S may relate to the initials of husband and wife respectively. Sold at Christie's Masters and Maker auction, 30 November 2010, lot 521 (£1000 part with no. 623, no. 634 and no. 637). Mander Auctioneers, Sudbury, Suffolk, 2 Dec 2023, lot 455 (ns); 20 Jan 2024, lot 289 (£30 part).

Inscription: 17 K 38 / F S

Description: Rectangular with ovolo-moulded edging; elaborate symmetrical rococo design framing a pictorial representation of an old man and two young women.

Notes: Carpentier (p.116) ascribes this design to Fontaine's fable of Les Oies de frere Philippe - Brother Philip's Geese.

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides only); eight shields of Ayloffe impaling Sulyard in three rows, 3-2-3; Ayloffe: sable, a lion rampant Or, collared gules, between three crosses formy of the second; Sulyard: argent, a chevron gules between three pheons inverted sable.

Notes: William Ayloffe (c1535-1584) of Bretons, Hornchurch, Essex, Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, married (c1560) Jane, dau. of Sir Eustace Sulyard, of Runwell, Essex.

Arms: Ayloffe impaling Sulyard (William Ayloffe of Bretons, Hornchurch)

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); shield of the Worshipful Company of Masons: Sable, on a chevron, engrailed argent between 3 castles of the second, with doors and windows of the field, a pair of compasses extended of the first; above, the letter ‘C’, the letters ‘H’ and ‘M’ split by the shield.

Notes: The arms of the Masons’ Company were granted in 1473. Sold at Christie's Masters and Maker auction, 30 November 2010, lot 523 (£500).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: HCM [triad]

Arms: Worshipful Company of Masons

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides) with fillet inside; top centre, rose-and-crown between four concentric roundels, two on each side in line, with two more below the inner ones; small fleurs-de-lys in triad below rose-and-crown; top left, initials; top right, date; small rose below date; triad of small roses to right of, and below, initials.

Notes: 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. Sold at Christie's Masters and Makers auction, 30 November 2010, lot 524 (£688).

Inscription: RP 1692

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, crowned Tudor royal shield between, on the left, and angled lion passant guardant sinister and, on the right, an angled lion passant; in each of the top corners, a four petalled rose; below the shield, a crowned shield bearing the initials above a small fleur-de-lys, between two crowned four-petalled roses; outside each of the roses, a pair of ‘imp’ figures, one with an arm raised, the other with both arms lowered.

Notes: A copy; one of the ‘Royal’ series. Sold at Christie's Masters and Makers auction, 30 November 2010, lot 522 (£2,125).

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: KH

Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, crowned lion and unicorn supporters, and motto; initials split by crown.

Notes: A bold, well-sculpted pattern.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: I R / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / DIEU ET MON DROIT

Arms: English Stuart royal - James I

Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); two irregularly spaced crosses formed of short, thick twisted lengths of rope.

Notes: The crosses may have been formed by twisting thinner rope around a short length of dowel, and are likely to have Christian significance.

Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date (in two parts) split across upper part of plate.

Notes: A recasting

Inscription: 17 25

Description: Rectangular; astragal edging; leopard passant guardant sinister canted, facing a leopard passant, with a crowned shield between bearing the initials, KH, above a fleur-de-lys.

Notes: One of the Royal series with uncommonly few stamps.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: KH