-
650
Description: Damaged; top missing; arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; with tassel at top; three nude female figures: on top, Juno/Hera with a peacock, to the left Venus/Aphrodite, the young cupid/Eros at her feet, to the right Minerva/Athena with spear and shield; border with fillet edging; two suspended festoons of fruit and leaves; date and monogram in rectangular panel below central panel; rectangular panel at the bottom, with the inscription, PALLAS VND VENVS.
Notes: The three goddesses are those whose beauty was the subject of the Judgement of Paris. The composition is copied from an engraving by Adriaen Collaert (c1560-1618). Examples of this fireback have been recast in England, the opportunity being taken to insert an English inscription in place of the customary date and pattern maker's monogram.
Inscription: 16 NDW 97 / PALLAS VND VENVS
- Decoration tags:
- 'Dutch' (shape)
- fillet (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- pictorial
- mythological
- text
- humans
Manufactured: in 1697 in the Siegerland area of Germany.
Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A3493 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- 'Dutch' NDW series
- Judgement of Paris firebacks
-
1200
Description: Arched rectangular plain shape with the sides of the arch concave, and with a diamond-shaped protrusion on each side; astragal edged sides terminating at the shoulders of the platre with a triangle on each side; top centre, initials in triad.
Notes: As small and unusual fireback of which only the upper part is visible, the lower part concealed behind a metal plate.
Inscription: IWM [triad]
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- individual letters
- text
Manufactured: in the 17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Initials only firebacks
