Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular central panel with 'nutshell' on fillet edging; on a ground with a tree to the left, a semi-naked figure of a man wearing a crown, his head turned to his left, robed about his waist, his left arm akimbo and his right hand holding a bident resting on his right shoulder, above are clouds and a sun ray; arched rectangular fillet border with suspended ribbons with floral bunches; at bottom centre, a cartouche bearing the letter ‘N’ between swirled foliage; on top, two stylised mirrored serpents with central swirled foliage.

Notes: The bident identifies the figure as the god Pluto/Hades, ruler of the underworld. The suspended ribbons and floral bunches in the border are similar to those seen on the Mayfield 'Dutch' series (e.g. no. 930). This is a copy of an earlier casting, a horizontal crack in the original having been preserved on the lower right side.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: N