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918
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; ovolo moulded edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a swirled cartouche, initials IT top centre; above, an English crown; below to right and left, a prancing stag.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625; although the framing of the pattern is very similar to others of the same basic design, the style suggests a different pattern maker. A variant of an otherwise identical fireback, with the addition of the date and initials. Bonhams sale, Chester, 25 July 2013, lot 257.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IT / 16 [?]1
Arms: France modern
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
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916
Description: Rectangular, with a detached pediment joined by rebated scrolls; cavetto-moulded edging; circular 'shield' in a cartouche, surmounted by an esquire's helm and lion rampant crest, with mantling behind; initials split by crest; date split in top corners.
Notes: The armorial is of David Prichard (d. 1630) of Llancaiac Fawr Manor; the blazon follows the patriarchal tradition of Welsh heraldry: quarterly, 1st, Sable a lion rampant Argent (for Cydrych ap Gwaithfoed), 2nd, Sable a chevron between three fleurs de lys Argent (for Einion ap Gollwyn), 3rd, Gules three chevrons Argent (for Iestyn ap Gwrgan), and 4th, Sable a chevron between three spear-heads Argent (for Bleddyn ap Maenyrch); the '8' of the date has a flattened top. A recasting, replacing a broken original.
Inscription: D P / 16 28
Arms: Prichard (or ap Richard)
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1628 possibly at Dyffryn Furnace in the South Wales area of Wales.
Current location: Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales.
Museum number: GTJ75111 (part of the Caerphilly County Borough Council Museums & Heritage Service museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Welsh armorial firebacks
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824
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; ovolo moulded edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a swirled cartouche; above, an English crown; below to right and left, a prancing stag.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625; although the framing of the pattern is very similar to others of the same basic design, the style suggests a different pattern maker. Christie's auction 21 Jun 2011 lot 208 (£2,750).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: France modern
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- animals
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
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1030
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape upon a moulded plinth; on a background comprising foliate swirls, a central shield, helm, coronet and elaborate mantling, with a crest of a forward facing centaur armed with a drawn bow pointed to the sinister side, and behind which are six pennons, three each side display in a v-shape; to the left, a triumph comprising a drum, draped flag on pole, concealing an arquebus, halberd and breastplate, and a broad-brimmed hat with feather; to the right, a triumph comprising a drum, a breast plate and tassets, a powder horn, and partially concealed arquebus, sword and spear, and a broad-brimmed hat with feather; at the base, a horizontal fillet with scrolled ends and squatting 'rodents'.
Notes: An uncharacteristic fireback designed and cast for the family of Joan Huydecoper (1625-1704). A variant without the base plinth and 'rodents' is in the collection of Museum Rotterdam (inv. 15224).
Inscription: ANNO 1647
Arms: Joan Huydecoper
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- armorial
- text
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in 1647 possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat, Amsterdam South, North Holland, Netherlands.
Museum number: BK-1978-19 (part of the Rijksmuseum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' Miscellaneous Firebacks
- Foreign armorial firebacks
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893
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; ovolo moulded edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a swirled cartouche, initials inserted at top of shield; above, an English crown; below to right and left, a prancing stag.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625; although the framing of the pattern is very similar to others of the same basic design, the style suggests a different pattern maker. A recasting of an earlier back with inserted initials.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IT
Arms: France modern
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
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158
Description: Armorial within complex ovolo moulded edging on all sides; two plank lines; shield, helm, crest and mantling of the Trevor family; the achievement is distinguished by the elaborately festooned mantling, the whole resting on a boat-shaped compartment.
Notes: The arms, which are of an esquire, are probably those of John Trevor (c1652-1686), the son of Sir John Trevor, one of Charles II’s Secretaries of State. By his marriage in 1679 to Elizabeth (c1656-1693), widow of William Morley, of Glynde, Sussex, the Glynde Place estate passed into the hands of the Trevors. The arms on this fireback have been variously, but incorrectly, attributed to Lord Dacre (a descendant of John Trevor), and Col. Marcus Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon (peers' arms have supporters). The distinctive shape is seen in similar form on several other armorial firebacks over the preceding century, suggesting a continuity of pattern making, if not the same pattern maker. Many copies of this fireback exist.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: Trevor family, of Glynde
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- planklines
- armorial
Manufactured: in the late 17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, John's Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: HASMG: 1917.2 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)
Citation: Baines, J. M., 1958, Wealden Firebacks (Hastings Museum).
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
Citation: Straker, E., 1931, Wealden Iron (London, Bell).
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Welsh armorial firebacks
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483
Description: Plain plate with scrolled side edges; canted arched rectangular astragal and fillet top moulding; central shield, crest and motto of the hardy family.
Inscription: ARMEE DE FOI HARDI
Arms: Hardy
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in the late 19th century at Low Moor Furnace in the Yorkshire area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Maresfield, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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560
Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape with symmetrical double fillet rococo edging; high relief pictorial battle scene with mounted knights carrying lances and pennants.
Notes: The battle scene may have been inspired by more than one classical portayal of a battle in history; likely sources are 'The Defeat of the Pisans at the Tower of St Vicenzo' by Giorgio Vasari and 'Alexander the Great's crossing of the Granicus' by Charles Le Brun. An engraving by Daniel Kellerthaler (1574-1648) has a similar frame enclosing an unidentified cavalry conflict.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- humans
Manufactured: in the late 18th to early 19th century in England.
Current location: Petworth House, Petworth, West Sussex, England.
Museum number: NT/PET/M/54 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
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584
Description: Of unique design; quasi-arched rectangular shape; ribbon border, curled on each side of the neck. Symmetrical arrangement of plant tendrils with acorns, oak leaves, pomegranates and other leaves across the rectangular base; above and centrally placed are the date, over which are the initials either side of a crescent moon, surmounted by an earl’s coronet.
Notes: The initials, H N, are thought to refer to Henry, 9th Earl of Northumberland, and the date to his release from the Tower of London following his 17 years’ imprisonment for alleged involvement in the Gunpowder Plot.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: H N / 1622
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1622 probably at Frith Furnace, Northchapel in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Petworth House, Petworth, West Sussex, England.
Museum number: 485698 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal firebacks
- Petworth lettering series
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667
Description: Armorial within complex ovolo moulded edging (top and sides); quartered shield, helm, crest and mantling; plain panel below.
Notes: The arms can be identified from the first four quarters on the memorial to Raffe Maynard, d.1613, in St Albans Cathedral; quarterly, 1, Maynard: argent, a chevron azure between three sinister hands couped at the wrist gules; 2, Filleigh: gules, a fess vairy between six crosses formy or; 3, Harris/Hawes/Hewish: gules fretty argent a canton of the second; 4, Lyons: argent a chevron sable between three lions dormant coward gules; the crest, a stag statant, is of Maynard. The Maynards, originally from Devon, were a large family in Rotherfield, and Richard Maynard (d.1619) had an interest in Old Mill, Mayfield, as well as in Birchden forge, and probably Hamsell furnace. A larger fireback with the same arms, and probably by the same pattern maker, can also be seen.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: Maynard
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
Manufactured: in the late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Rolvenden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Ornate border series
- Maynard arms firebacks