Firebacks

Description: Arched shape; double-fillet edged arched border, with six evenly-spaced roses, resting on pilasters; shield, supporters, garter and coronet of the Earl of Exeter; plain rectangular bottom panel.

Notes: The arms are of the earldom of Exeter, which was created in 1605 for Thomas Cecil, 2nd Lord Burghley (1542-1623).

Inscription: HONY SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE [illegible]

Arms: Cecil, Earls of Exeter

Description: Arched shape; cavetto-moulded edging to the arch; quartered shield with an, off-centre, knight's helm, wreath and mantling, and crest of a cubit arm vested, or habited, cuffed and erased holding an arrow in bend sinister; the shield has, in the 1st quarter three lions rampant, in the 2nd a bend cotised, in the 3rd possibly a lion rampant, and in the 4th possibly a dragon rampant within a bordure indented; below the shield, a partially indistinct motto.

Notes: From the style of the mantling the pattern carver may have also been responsible for other firebacks from the west Midlands or Welsh border area. A short horizontal fillet on the right extending perpendicular to the vertical fillet edging below the arch indicates that the fireback originally was of arched rectangular shape and extended to the left and right. The cavetto edging around the arch would have extended to the bottom of the fireback were this not so.

Inscription: ...ACH CAVSE...

Arms: Not known

Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.

Notes: A tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.

Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]

Description: Arched; twisted rope edging; date at top; initials in triad below date.

Notes: An unusually tall fireback in proportion to its height, probably specifically related to its early use with a coal fire.

Inscription: 1648 / TMH [triad]

Description: Arched shape with ovolo egg-and-dart edging; crown surmounting a shield, a quartered shield with an escutcheon impaling a crowned lion rampant with an escutcheon; text along the bottom.

Notes: The arms have not been identified; LOVEN is the town of Leuven, capital of the province of Brabant, which, in 1662, was in the Spanish Netherlands.

Inscription: LOVEN 1662

Description: Arched plate; ovolo moulding edging; shield, supporters, coronet, helm, crest and motto of Viscount Montague; quarterly Browne, Albini, Fitzalan, Fitzalan of Clare, Warren, Maltravers, Nevill, Montagu, Monthermer, Inglethorpe, Burghe, Delapole, Bradeston, Tiptoft, Charleton and Kent (Plantagenet); supporters: two bears collared and chained; the crest: an eagle, the wings elevated and displayed.

Notes: The arms of either the 2nd (Anthony-Maria Browne, succ. 1592-1629) or 3rd viscount (Francis Browne succ. 1629-1682) - the 1st viscount was a Knight of the Garter and no garter is shown; the style of the modelling bears similarities to that on the 1618 series of firebacks and may be the work of the same pattern-maker.

Inscription: 16 / VERITATE DUCE [Be led by Truth]

Arms: Viscount Montague

Description: Arched shape; patterned astragal edging; central shield with helm, crest and mantling above, and motto scroll below; initials either side of crest; date split by shield.

Notes: The arms are those of Chamberlayne: gules, an inescutcheon within an orle of mullets argent; the crest: out of a ducal coronet the head of an ass (the tinctures vary according to the branch of the family); the initials are reputed to be those of Thomas Chamberlayne; the date appears to have been hand inscribed. The style of the carving is the same as on two other firebacks in the same county.

Inscription: T C / 16 18 / [motto unreadable]

Arms: Chamberlayne

Description: Arched rectangle with crude scalloping around the edges; elaborate, symmetrical strapwork frame with scrolls top left and right, and below, a bunch of grapes hanging from the top, and the head and forelegs of a goat climbing through; inside each upper scroll, a small astragel edged oval.

Notes: The strapwork, a distinctive feature of Elizabethan design, was probably derived from redundant furniture. Marks round the edge of this fireback suggest that it may have been reduced from a larger size.

Description: Arched shape with ovolo-moulded edging; figure of a classical warrior with plumed helmet and shield, holding a sword in his right hand; inscription to left of head, probably continued to right by now no longer visible.

Notes: An unusually striking fireback of simple design.

Inscription: ANNO ...

Description: Rectangular with arched top; astragal moulded edging (top and sides); top centre, shield, supporters, coronet and motto of the 1st Baron Ashburnham: (1st & 4th) gu. a fess between six mullets ar. (Ashburnham), (2nd) az. semee of fleurs-de-lys a lion rampant guardant ar. (Holland), (3rd) erm. three crescents gu. (Kenn); on an escutcheon of pretence, sa. a chevron between three boys' heads couped at the shoulders proper each entwined around the neck with a snake vert (Vaughan). Supporters: two greyhounds sa. their faces, breasts, and feet ar. collared and lined or; below left and right, a monogram of B and J with a baron’s coronet above.

Notes: John Ashburnham, who married Bridget Vaughan in 1677, was created baron in 1689. he died in 1710. The fireback dates from between 1689 and 1710.

Inscription: LE ROY ET L’ESTAT

Arms: John, 1st Baron Ashburnham