Firebacks

1067mm wide

  1. 175

    brightwells,_leominster_16_mar_2016_lot_704.jpg
    1067 x 803 mm

    Description: Quasi-arched rectangular with 5-facetted arch; cyma recta moulded edging (top and sides); in the centre, an oval Tudor royal shield on a cartouche surrounded by a garter, a crown above, separating the initials, ER, all on a larger cartouche.

    Notes: 'SOIT' in the Garter motto is incorrectly spelled 'SOTI'. An example at Chiddingstone in Kent (no. 260) has additional circular, crowned armorial stamps, linking it to firebacks dating from 1589. Brightwells auction, Leominster, 16 Mar 2016, lot 704 (£220).

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: E / HONI SOTI QVI MAL Y PENCE / R

    Arms: Tudor royal (Elizabeth I)

    Manufactured: in the late-16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: not known.

  2. 114

    hastings_004.jpg
    1067 x 559 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Quasi-rectangular shape with low-curved convex top; edging (top and sides)formed of lengths of dowel grooved laterally and helically; upper centre, cross formed of the same dowel; at each side, tandem arrangement of longer dowel, similarly grooved.

    Notes: The base board appears to be the same size and shape as that of a fireback at Plaxtol, Kent (no. 587), which also has the same edging; and the grooved dowels are also on a fireback with dagger stamps at Lewes; the cross will have been intended to have apotropaic significance. Formerly part of the Ade Collection (from Grove Hill, Hellingly, Sussex).

    Manufactured: in the mid- to late-16th 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: 1952.51.21 (part of the Hastings Museum museum group)

    Citation: Easton, T. & Hodgkinson, J. S., 2013, 'Apotropaic Symbols on Cast-Iron Firebacks', Jnl. of the Antique Metalware Soc., 21, pp. 14-33.

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

  3. 450

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 090.jpg
    1067 x 622 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging; central crowned Tudor shield with lion passant guardant sinister to the left, and lion passant to right; four-petalled rose in right and left corners; crowned, barbed, four-petalled rose below shield.

    Notes: One of a large series bearing some or all of the same stamps.

    Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

    Manufactured: in the mid-16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Barbican House, High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: LH000.800 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., 2022, 'A Tudor Fireback Stamp: the progressive deterioration of its condition as evidence of the relative age of castings', Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, 27, pp. 42-5.

  4. 472

    llan_ffestiniog,_bryn_llywelyn_a.jpg
    1067 x 838 mm

    Description: Rectangular with central triangular arch; twisted rope edging (top and sides); in arch, on top, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys above a rose and crown with dragon and lion supporters above two crowned shields each bearing a small fleur-de-lys; text across top half, a small cross formed of fleurs-de-lys ending the first and third lines, the top two lines split by the crowned shields, each word separated by two opposed fleurs; below the text, four crowned shields each with a fleur-de-lys, the date between the middle two; lower left, 'I'; lower right, 'A'.

    Notes: The inscription can be interpreted as Thomas Anstie alias Field and Denise his wife (etc.), the surname Anstie alias Field being known in the 16th century in central Sussex. A Thomas Anstye married Denys Joyner at Wivelsfield, Sussex on 5th June 1564; illustrated in Lower, 1849 p. 189 with some errors in transcription of the inscription; formerly at 'Misfield' (Miswell), Worth, Sussex. One of a small series of distinctive firebacks cast in 1582, most with inscriptions dedicated to pairs of individuals; the initials IA are likely to be of the founder as they appear in the same arrangement on the other firebacks; the rose and crown and supporters stamp can also be seen on a large fireback, dated 1593, formerly at Baynard's Park, Surrey (no. 200).

    Inscription: THOMAS VNSTE / ALIS : FILD AND DINIS / HIS : WIF: ANO : DOMINO: / 1582 / I A

    Manufactured: in 1582 possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Gwesty Seren Hotel (formerly Bryn Llewellyn), Allt Goch, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales.

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

    Citation: Hodgkinson, J. S., Spring 2024, 'A Tudor Fireback Rediscovered', Base Thoughts, Newsletter of the Antique Metalware Society, p. 11.

    Citation: Jones, G. V., Autumn/Winter 2023, 'Dirgelwch i rywun ei ddatrys' [A Mystery for Someone to Solve], Gwreiddiau Gwynedd Roots, 85, 2, pp. 6-7.

    Citation: Lintin, B., Spring/Summer 2024, 'Twists of Fate: a Mystery mostly solved', Gwreiddiau Gwynedd Roots, 86, 1, pp. 43-45.

    Citation: Lower, M. A., 1849, 'Iron Works of the County of Sussex', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 2, pp. 169-220 (esp. pp. 188-9).