Firebacks

Description: Canted rectangular shape; individual moulded edging; centre, initials WB, above date.

Notes: The text appears to have been imprinted into a mould formed from a base panel.

Inscription: WB / 1697

Description: Arched rectangular shaped central panel, bead edging (top and sides), pedestal bearing a supine male figure with headband being trampled by a horse, facing left, mounted by a rider with long hair, facing to the front; on each side of the plinth is a seated figure wearing a hat, with a basket of fruit; above the rider are crescent lines representative of clouds; the inscription is split either side of the horse; the date (‘7’ rotated and, with ‘4’, reversed) is on the die of the pedestal; arched rectangular shaped border, fillet edging, on each side a Solomonic column with vine decoration; in the arch, symmetrical parallel curved lines with a central oval cartouche beneath a crown; on top of each shoulder of the plate a figure in repose.

Notes: The equestrian figure is derived from the statue of Charles II erected in Stocks Market, London, in 1672. Originally to be of Jan Sobieski, later king of Poland, riding down a Tatar, it was altered to represent Charles, and the Tatar’s face was changed to that of Oliver Cromwell; the statue attracted a fair degree of derision. The statue is now at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Another version (no. 464) omits a date and has altered initials.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: C R / 1674

Description: Rectangular; cyma curve and fillet edging; crowned Tudor rose within a pediment resting on Tuscan pilasters and pedestals; faint impression of a shield bearing a lion rampant repeated in each top corner.

Notes: The width of this fireback may indicate that another fireback in this series was used as its pattern and the shields added before casting.

Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); top centre, initials in triad between split date.

Notes: A late date for a very simple design.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: 17 T M M 48