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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, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: St Mary's Abbey, Blanchland, Northumberland, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- Jacobean royal armorial firebacks
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1080
Description: Cast-iron fireback consisting of a panel with an arched top and scrolled ears. Decorated with reliefs, foliate borders at the sides, and in the centre with a coat of arms consisting of a shield, three castles separated by a chevron with an open compass, and with crest of a bird with a leafed branch in its beak, all elaborated with foliage. Motto along arched crest; motto in scroll below arms; maker’s name along bottom.
Notes: The arms are essentially those of the Premier Grand Lodge of England, granted in 1717, differenced by the motto; the Massachusetts Lodge was founded in 1733; the blazon is an adaptation of the arms of the Worshipful Company of Masons. Joseph Webb was a Boston ironmonger and chandler; his 1765 trade card was designed by fellow Freemason Paul Revere, who may also have cast the fireback.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: THE • FREE • MASONS • ARMS / FOLLOW • REASON / SOLD • BY • JOSEPH • WEBB • BOSTON
Arms: Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Freemasons
- Decoration tags:
- quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- heraldic
- armorial
- text
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-18th century probably at North End Ironworks, Boston in the Massachusetts area of United States of America.
Current location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Museum number: 1982.618 (part of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Personal armorial firebacks
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893
Description: Rectangular with complex quasi-arched rectangular top; ovolo moulded edging; shield with Royal arms of France in a swirled cartouche, initials inserted at top of shield; above, an English crown; below to right and left, a prancing stag.
Notes: The combination of the English crown and French arms is common and may relate to the marriage of Charles I and Princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625; although the framing of the pattern is very similar to others of the same basic design, the style suggests a different pattern maker. A recasting of an earlier back with inserted initials.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: IT
Arms: France modern
- Decoration tags:
- complex quasi-arched rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
- text
- animals
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century possibly in the Weald area of England.
Current location:, not known.
- Attached to series:
- Anglo-French armorial firebacks
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1165
Description: Canted rectangular shape; braided rope edging (top and sides); top centre, initials 'TSE' in triad, above centred date.
Notes: The use of braided rope edging is unusual. The fireback was formerly in a house in Westmoreland associated with the Salkeld family.
Inscription: TSE [triad] / 1612
- Decoration tags:
- canted rectangular (shape)
- braided rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1612 in England.
Current location: Gwydir Castle, Trefriw, Conwy, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks