Firebacks

Shape: arched rectangular

206 results

  1. 217

    brighton_museum 09.jpg
    805 x 646 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo edging; date in arch; below arch, two parallel straps, each with a buckle at the top; initials left and right of centre; rectangular stamp with bird, four times across top.

    Notes: The buckles, the date and the initials all appear to be separate stamps but attached to the base board before being impressed to form the mould, as they are identically positioned on all castings. The buckles suggest a connection with the Pelham family; the initials may relate to Sir Thomas Pelham, Bt. (1597-1654) who owned and operated ironworks at Waldron and Crowhurst in Sussex. This would appear to be a casting of the original pattern.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 1642 / T P

    Manufactured: in 1642 probably at Waldron Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Brighton, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: HA105912 (part of the Brighton Museum museum group)

    Citation: Lindsay, J. S., 1927, Iron & Brass Implements of the English House (London, The Medici Society).

  2. 972

    bristol,_red lodge museum 02a.jpg
    760 x 924 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape with ovolo-moulded edging and extensions to sides and top; central shield bearing arms with lion rampant supporters and motto scroll beneath; above, a marquesal coronet; date (over-pressed) in extension above main panel; inserted initials (slightly over-pressed) on either side of coronet.

    Notes: The arms are of Henry Pierrepont, marquess of Dorchester and earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, of Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire (blazon: argent semi of cinquefoils gules, a lion rampant sable), with the motto: Pie Repone Te (Place yourself piously), a pun on the name, Pierrepont. Confusingly, the marquisate of Dorchester was created twice for members of the same family. In 1645 it was created for Henry Pierrepont, 2nd earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, becoming extinct on his death without surviving male issue in 1680. It was created again for Evelyn Pierrepont, the 5th earl of Kingston in 1706 who was subsequently elevated to the dukedom of Kingston in 1715. The original casting may therefore have dated to between 1645 and 1680 or between 1706 and 1715. The initials may be related to the Halls, the 2nd Duke of Kingston's mother's family, and were added to a subsequent casting which, in turn, could have pre-dated the addition of the dated extensions which have obliterated 'Dutch'-style dolphins known to have surmounted the original.

    Inscription: 1722 / I H / PIE REPONE TE

    Arms: Pierrepont, Marquess of Dorchester

    Manufactured: in 1722 in England.

    Current location: Red Lodge, Park Row, Bristol, England.

    Museum number: NX420 (part of the Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives museum group)

  3. 1028

    broadway,_lygon arms 02a.jpg
    1010 x 930 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); date in arch; initial triads in top shoulders of plate; small mask patera repeated once above date and on each side of 'H' initials.

    Notes: The small mask patera has not been seen on other firebacks.

    Inscription: 1631 / WHK [triad] WHK [triad]

    Manufactured: in 1631 in England.

    Current location: The Lygon Arms, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, England.

  4. 1029

    broadway,_lygon arms 04a.jpg
    905 x 920 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging; shield, supporters, earl's coronet and motto scroll.

    Notes: The arms are of the Hyde family: azure, a chevron between three lozenges or; the supporters: two eagles, wings endorsed sable, ducally crowned and charged on the breast with a cross or; Edward Hyde (1609-74) was created earl of Clarendon in 1661. An excrescence over the sinister supporter indicates where the iron was poured clumsily into the open sand mould.

    Arms: Hyde, earls of Clarendon

    Manufactured: in the mid to late 17th century in England.

    Current location: The Lygon Arms, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, England.

  5. 1262

    bromyard,_21_sherford_street.jpg
    940 x 1040 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; ‘egg and dart’ ovolo moulding visible on top and sides; shield, helmet, crest, mantling and supporters of the Mohun family; above the crest, the initials 'EM'; date separated by the crest.

    Notes: Cast from a finely carved pattern, the supporters denote these are the arms of a peer. The crest is: Gules, a maunch ermine, with a hand proper holding a fleur de lys or. An incomplete casting (without the initials or date) from Sidney Farm, Alfold, Surrey, is in Guildford Museum. Reginald Mohun (pron. Moon) of Dedisham, Slinfold, Sussex, married Elizabeth Blounte of Dedisham at Slinfold 21 Dec 1618. The Mohun barony of Okehampton, Devon was created in 1628. The fireback design probably dates from after that, the initials and date being added when this copy was cast in 1676. Bellmans auction, Wisborough Green, 1 Oct 2020 lot 3084 (£45).

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: EM / 16 76 / [indecipherable motto]

    Arms: Mohun family, barons of Okehampton

    Manufactured: in 1676 in England.

    Current location: in private hands, Bromyard, Herefordshire, England.

  6. 24

    burwash,_batemans 02.jpg
    593 x 914 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped with fillet and cavetto dentil moulding, and paternost bead edging inside; a lion rampant

    Notes: Whole pattern. An unusually tall fireback in relation to its width.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the 18th century in England.

    Current location: Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 761107 (part of the National Trust museum group)

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  7. 224

    cardiff,_st fagans 02.jpg
    780 x 770 mm

    Description: Composite; Arched rectangular shaped, armorial fireback, cavetto edging, with Stuart Royal arms, garter, supporters, crown and motto, and 1639 date above crown; this overlies a rectangular plate, with rope-effect, fillet edging; a pattern of four rosettes surrounding a fleur-de-lys, its stem terminating in a small buckle, is repeated on each side of the central armorial fireback, with the initials above; each rosette is stamped separately.

    Notes: The armorial may originally have been one of the 1619 series. Formerly at Wonastow Court, Momouthshire

    Inscription: 1639 / G / HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE / DIEV ET MO DROIT

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in 1639 possibly in the Forest of Dean area of England.

    Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.

    Museum number: 40.428 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)

  8. 229

    cardiff,_st fagans 07.jpg
    505 x 520 mm

    Description: Rectangular with superimposed arch; embattled, cavetto moulded edging, with the top edge of the rectangle interrupted; shield, garter, crown, supporters and motto of the English Royal house of Stuart; rose and thistle plants above lion and unicorn supporters respectively; initials split by crown; date below garter.

    Notes: A different version is at Newick Park, Sussex.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: I R / HONI S OIT QVI MAL Y ..ENSE / 16 19

    Arms: English Stuart royal

    Manufactured: in 1619 in England.

    Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.

    Museum number: 48.354/85 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  9. 234

    cardiff,_st fagans 11.jpg
    450 x 535 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped; cavetto moulded edging, scalloped top and sides; Prince of Wales’ badge of three ostrich feathers emerging through a coronet; symmetrical scroll with elaborate swirls, bearing motto; monogrammed initials at bottom, left of centre.

    Notes: The scalloped edging and RN monogram have been noted on other firebacks, suggesting a common pattern maker. Formerly from Burwash, Sussex.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: ICH DIEN / RN

    Manufactured: in the early to mid 17th century in England.

    Current location: National History Museum, St Fagans, Glamorgan, Wales.

    Museum number: 20.177/1 (part of the Welsh National History Museum museum group)

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).

  10. 242

    chailey,_woodbrooks farm 02.jpg
    675 x 625 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shaped; astragal edging; shield bearing a saltire, beneath a baron’s coronet; date and initials split by shield.

    Notes: The shield, coronet and initials may be those of George Nevill, 12th Baron Bergavenny (1665-95); the Neville arms has a rose in the centre but if the shield were a painted carving, the rose may have been painted and not carved.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 16 72 / G B

    Arms: George Nevill, 12th baron Bergavenny

    Manufactured: in 1672 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Fulham, London, England.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2010, British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries (Crawley, Hodgers Books).