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897
Description: Steeply canted rectangle; no edging; upper centre, square formed of twisted rope lengths inside which are what appear to be two lions passant in pale with a circle and two short sloping lines in inverted V form above; on either side of the square is an O and an R; below the square three lengths of twisted rope extend to the bottom edge, the central one vertically and the the outer two sloping away from the centre; along the bottom is the date, each numeral separated by one of the rope lengths.
Notes: Alleged to be a representation of the arms of the O'Rourke family, who held sway in Cavan and Leitrim, the initials said to be of Owen O'Rourke. Noted in a cottage at Arigna, County Roscommon.
Inscription: O O R / 1 6 8 8
Arms: O'Rourke
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- animals
- objects
Manufactured: in 1688 possibly at Drumshanbo furnace in the Leitrim area of Ireland.
Current location:.
Citation: Lindsay, J. S., 1927, Iron & Brass Implements of the English House (London, The Medici Society).
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
- Date & initials firebacks
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1056
Description: Canted rectangle; moulded fillet edging (top and sides); top line, 'daisy' plant stamp repeated three times, spaced evenly, with 'SOWLY' in a block, a ducal coronet above, between the left two, and '1721' in individual numerals, a ducal coronet above, between the right two; a swirling foliage stamp repeated down each side, a 'daisy' plant below each; initials 'I' and 'B' separately in bottom corners.
Notes: Sowley was the iron furnace in Hampshire owned in 1721 by the 2nd duke of Montagu, whose coronet is seen in the decoration, and operated by John White of Monmouth. The swirled foliage stamp is seen on other firebacks identified by the letters 'IB' between 1703 and 1721, probably indicating the same founder.
Inscription: SOWLY 1721 / I B
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- moulded fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1721 at Sowley furnace in the New Forest area of England.
Current location: Palace House, Beaulieu, Hampshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- IB series
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204
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); Tudor royal shield and Garter with crown above, between lion and unicorn supporters; initials separated by crown; a small ring and bar are placed to the left of the unicorn’s mouth.
Notes: The Tudor shield and crown feature on many Wealden firebacks, and have here been reused with Jacobean supporters; their stamps are derived from standing models.
Inscription: I R
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the early 17th century possibly at Pounsley furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: St Mary's Abbey, Blanchland, Northumberland, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
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205
Description: Canted rectangle; simulated rectangular chain link moulded border, with bead edging inside (top and sides); Tudor royal shield surrounded by circular inscription with fillet edging; above, an English royal crown.
Notes: The unconventionality of the motto may indicate a particular purpose, e.g. thanksgiving; the edging is not known on other firebacks. Bonhams sale, Chester, 8-9 September 2009, lot 567.
Inscription: VIVAT·REGIN··A·DIV·:·PA CE [Long live the Queen ... peace]
Arms: Tudor royal
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- complex, furniture-derived (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- armorial
- royal
Manufactured: in the late 16th century in England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Tudor royal armorial firebacks
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876
Description: Canted rectangle; complex moulded edging (top and sides); rectangular incised initial stamp repeated ten times 3-4-3.
Notes: The use of an incised stamp is uncommon.
Inscription: RTI [repeated 10 times]
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- carved stamps
- text
Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.
Current location: Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
Museum number: 222509.1 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Initials only firebacks
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
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875
Description: Canted rectangle; double fillet edging (top and sides); repeated 'X' stamp parallel to edging, horizontally across centre, and in two parallel lines from top to centre, dividing top half of plate into three sections; 'daisy' stamp approximately in middle of top left and right sections, repeated four times in triad in top middle section, and thrice along top of bottom section; small roundel stamp repeated 3-3-1 in top left section, and 3-1-3-1 in top right section; date split between top left and right sections; initials split in top centre section.
Notes: An arrangement with several elements likely to have been repeated on other firebacks.
Inscription: 16 D[reversed] B 81
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- double fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1681 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England.
Museum number: 222490 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
- Newent area group
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
-
208
Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); quasi-symmetrical arrangement of four fleurs-de-lys in star, top centre, two fleurs each side along top edge, single fleurs beneath outer top fleurs; short rope length in vertical and inverted ‘V’ shapes each side between top fleurs; ?dagger handle irregularly positioned centre left and right.
Notes: The style and shape of the fleurs-de-lys is unique to a particular series of firebacks, suggesting the same source; the 'V' shapes may have apotropaic significance. A sketch of this fireback was made by J. Starkie Gardner c.1891 and is in his collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Archive of Art and Design (AAD/2014/8).
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
Manufactured: in the mid 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cox Green, Berkshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- Royal series
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850
Description: Canted rectangle; elaborate cavetto moulded edging (top and sides); strapwork shield with a demi-flower at each side, between initials (S only visible); arms quarterly of six, 1st Or two chevronels Gules, on a canton of the last a mullet of the first (Pope); 2nd Argent three bars Gules, on a canton ermine a bend of lozenges of the second (Walshe); 3rd Sable three laurel leaves in bend Or between two bendlets Argent (Waller); 4th Azure a chevron between three crosses Moline Argent (Lansdale); 5th Ermine on a bend Gules three lions’ heads erased Or (Weston); 6th Azure a lion rampant Or supporting a cross patée fitchée of the second (Pichingham).
Notes: The excrescence over the third quartering is the result of the iron being poured directly onto the mould. The second initial is known from another casting. The date above the shield has been inserted before casting and differs slightly from another example of the same back.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: 1625 / S [P]
Arms: Pope (Sackevile Pope (b. 1589) of Hendall, in Buxted, Sussex)
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- complex individual (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- date stamp
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in 1625 in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
- Low relief armorial series
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812
? x ? mmImage subject to copyrightDescription: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); divided by rope lengths into four panels: centre top, square; centre bottom, trapezium; sides, irregular hexagons; buckle stamp repeated three times, in bottom and side panels; top centre panel, circular flower stamp with fleur de lys on each petal.
Notes: The buckle stamps suggest a connection with the Pelham family; illustrated in Butterfield 1916, where it was stated to have been in a house at Herstmonceux, Sussex..
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- planklines
- heraldic
- objects
Manufactured: in the late 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location:.
Citation: Butterfield, W. R., 1916, 'Old Wealden Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 46, pp. 197-209.
- Attached to series:
- Pelham family firebacks
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1088
Description: Canted rectangular shape; cavetto-moulded edging (top and sides); across the top, double star stamp repeated nine times; below and top centre, date between initials in triad; below date, large hollow fleur-de-lys stamp repeated three times in a line between two triads of stylised fleur-de-lys stamps, with one of the same stamps in each bottom corner; lower centre, woodblock stamp repeated three times in a line.
Notes: The initials 'IIA' in triad probably relate to a couple whose surname initial was 'I'; a fireback, dated 1659, with some of the same stamps is at the Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley, Gloucestershire, and another, dated 1667, has been noted at Upper End Farm, Hope Mansell, Herefordshire. Brightwells Auctioneers, Leominster, 27 Jul 2016, lot 694.
Inscription: IIA [triad] 1668 IIA [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1668 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location:, England.
- Attached to series:
- Hollow fleur Dean series
- Newent area group
- Date & initials firebacks