Firebacks

475mm wide

  1. 936

    fortuna_haringhuizen_475x705.jpg
    475 x 705 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with triple bead and pellet edging; semi-naked figure of Fortune, holding in her hands a billowing sheet, and standing on a ground; arched rectangular fillet border enclosing suspended swagged flowers and berries (top and sides), with indeterminate foliage on the bottom on either side of an empty cartouche; on top, symmetrical wsirled foliage.

    Notes: The design is derived from an engraving by Aegidius Sadeler after a painting by Christoph Schwarz of about 1580-1600. Although not marked as such, other castings of this fireback are marked with the initials, GK, and dated to 1700.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Manufactured: in the early-18th century possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: in private hands Haringhuizen, Netherlands.

    Citation: Elling, W. & Winkler-Borck, S., 1992, Ofen- und Kaminplatten (Vreden, Hamaland-Museum).

  2. 649

    rochester_06.jpg
    475 x 685 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel with bead edging; pictorial scene of the young Bacchus, a cup and bunch of grapes in his hands, seated on a barrel, surrounded by grape vines and buches, the date below the barrel, initials below, left and right; arched rectangular border with fillet edging; undulating vine design all round; on top, indistinguishable shape between two seated figures.

    Notes: The seated figures on top are an unusual feature.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: 1701 / A [?] AL

    Manufactured: in 1701 possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.

    Museum number: A3492 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)

  3. 803

    worth,_saxon road.jpg
    475 x 720 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular central panel, astragal and fillet edge, pictorial, Hercules, sword in hand, preparing to slay the Hydra; Arched rectangular border, fillet edge, ivy leaves and tendrils, monogram at bottom; swirled foliage on top.

    Notes: The wooden pattern for this fireback (no. 927), formerly in the custody of William Hobday (d. 1883), last surviving ironworker at Ashburnham furnace, was given to the Sussex Archaeological Society by the Revd. J. Bickersteth. The fireback was previously at a house at Hooe, East Sussex.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: TAN

    Manufactured: in the 18th century at Ashburnham Furnace in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, Crawley, West Sussex, England.

    Citation: Butterfield, W. R., 1916, 'Old Wealden Firebacks', The Connoisseur, 46, pp. 197-209.

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

    Citation: Lloyd, N., 1925, 'Domestic Ironwork I', Architectural Review, 58, pp. 58-67.

    Citation: Straker, E., 1931, Wealden Iron (London, Bell).

    Citation: Whistler, R. F., 1888, 'Penhurst: being some account of its Iron Works, Manor House, Church, etc.,' Sussex Archaeological Collections, 36, pp. 1-18.