-
597
Description: Arched rectangular; ovolo edging (top and sides only); arms of the Barony of Ashburnham: (1st & 4th) gu. a fess between six mullets ar. (Ashburnham), (2nd) az. a lion rampant between eight fleurs de lys ar. (Holland), (3rd) erm. three crescents gu. (Kenn); on an escutcheon of pretence a chevron between three boys heads couped at the shoulders each entwined around the neck with a snake (Vaughan). Supporters: two greyhounds sa. their faces, breasts, and feet ar. collared and lined or; on either side of the arms is a winged cherub’s head; below each is a monogram of ‘B J’ beneath a baron’s coronet.
Notes: The arms are those of John, 1st Baron Ashburnham (1656-1710), who married Bridget Vaughan, but the fireback dates from the time of his son, John, the 3rd Baron, created Earl in 1730.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: LE ROY ET L’ESTAT / 17 13
Arms: John, 1st Baron Ashburnham
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- armorial
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in 1713 probably at Ashburnham Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Ashburnham family firebacks
- Personal armorial firebacks
-
604
Description: Arched rectangular with curved shoulders; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides) with twin scrolls on inside corners, and scalloped bottom edge; armorial; shield (32 quarters), mantling, supporters (bull and crowned lion), coronet, motto, 2 helms and crests (a bear’s head erased and ducally gorged, and a bear and ragged staff).
Notes: The impaled arms appear to be those of the Earldom of Huntingdon. The crests are of Hastings and Dudley, suggesting they are of Henry, 3rd Earl (c.1535-95), and his wife, Katherine (1548-1620), daughter of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. She was a child when they married in 1553. This is an incomplete casting, the full version of which includes a bottom panel with a repeated guilloche design. Christie's Masters and Makers Sale, South Kensington, 30 Nov 2010, lot 516 (£4,375).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IN VERITATE VICTORIA (illegible, but verified on other castings)
Arms: Hastings, earl of Huntingdon, impaling Dudley
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
Manufactured: in the late-16th century in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
-
620
Description: Arched rectangular shape with rounded corners; ovolo within fillet moulding all round; oval Tudor royal shield with garter surrounding, topped with a royal crown; dragon and greyhound supporters; initials split by crown; inscription on a fillet between legs of supporters, behind garter finial; motto on an Ionic plinth at bottom; two rectangular side panels, each with a bird stamp (probably a swan, a Lancastrian badge) above a vine strip stamp repeated three times vertically.
Notes: One of two known variants of the John Harvo fireback incorporating extension panels with vine strips and 'swans'; the positions of the swans vary slightly between the two variants.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: E R [+ Garter, Harvo and royal mottoes, all illegible]
Arms: Tudor royal - prob. Edward VI
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- whole carved pattern
- individual letters
- extension panels
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-16th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
-
633
Description: Arched rectangular shape with small rhomboidal flanges in the corners of the arch; cavetto moulded edge on all sides, with a rose stamp on each curved enlargement of the moulding in the top corners; Stuart royal arms (1605-88, 1702-14) with lion and unicorn supporters, garter, crown and motto.
Notes: A recasting. A casting of the same fireback is in the collection of the Sussex Archaeological Society, but with the addition of a person's name impressed from the broken handle of a skillet (no. 405).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: [Garter and royal mottoes]
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the late-17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
-
821
Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; shield, crest and motto in relief in a recessed arched rectangle.
Notes: The arms are of Weston, of West Horsley, Surrey: Sable, a chevron or between three leopards heads erased argent crowned or and langued gules; crest: a wolf passant ducally gorged or; motto: Gloria sat Deus unus - God alone is sufficient glory; the Westons were at West Horsley Place from the mid 18th century.
Inscription: GLORIA SAT DEUS UNUS [God alone is sufficient glory]
Arms: Weston family of West Horsley, Surrey
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-19th century in England.
Current location: Mark Ripley Forge & Fireplaces, Northbridge Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
-
646
Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; bell-flower column repeated on each side; at bottom, central rectangular panel, fillet edged, enclosing outstretched wings; above, intertwined leaves in figure-of-eight, enclosing a crown at the top.
Notes: This fireback incorporates features of the ‘Dutch’ style but within an English form.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- plants
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in England.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3484 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
-
653
Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; central, two handled, fluted vase with swirled, fruited vines issuing from the neck, and a bird on each side perched within the vines; out of the neck, a naïve human figure with arms outstretched, grasping vines on each side.
Notes: The figure emerging from the vase has a symbolism which has yet to be explained.
Copies of this fireback are known.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- plants
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3496 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Gadrooned vase firebacks
-
657
Description: Rectangular with curved top corners; Arched rectangular extension on top; ovolo edging; mounted figure in 17th cent. armour riding down a dragon to the left and below, sword in hand; inscription across top and either side of horseman; date below left; initials below right.
Notes: Probably a representation of St George and the Dragon, with political undertones, given the date. Cursius may be a mis-spelling of Marcus Curtius, who sacrificed himself for the good of Rome. Nil Desperandum - Despair not. Other firebacks also bear the initials, IM, which probably relate to the pattern maker, some with a similar style of lettering.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: CVRSIVS / NIL DESPERANDVM / 1650 / IM
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- allegorical
- text
- animals
- humans
Manufactured: in 1650 possibly at Brede Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Rolvenden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- IM series
- Hooked '1' series
- Brede group
-
659
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; ovolo moulded edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a cartouche; above, an English crown.
Notes: A different version of no. 488. 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; probably the work of the same pattern maker. Many copies exist of this fireback.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: French royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Rolvenden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Ornate border series
- Miscellaneous royal firebacks
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
-
666
Description: Inclined rectangle with ogee arch; fillet and ogee moulded edging; garter enclosing English Stuart royal arms, with supporters, helm, crest, mantling and motto.
Notes: Standard armorial design; the inclined shape is uncommon.
Inscription: [Garter motto illegible] DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.
Current location: in private hands, Rolvenden, Kent, England.
- Attached to series:
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks