Firebacks

775mm wide

  1. 384

    lewes,_sussex arch soc 019.jpg
    775 x 510 mm
    Image subject to copyright

    Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edge on top and sides; crowned Tudor royal shield between fleurs de lys arranged in a four-pointed star shape on left, in a three-pointed star shape on right, and three singly in a line below.

    Notes: The crowned shield is seen on several firebacks, indicating that they were products of the same furnace.

    Arms: Tudor royal arms of England

    Manufactured: in the mid-16th century in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 1944.24.034 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)

    Citation: Christy, M., 30 May 1908, 'The Old Flat Hearth and its Appliances, III - The Fire-back', The Crown, The Court and County Families' Newspaper, XCIX, Vol. 8, No. 9, pp. 383-6.

    Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.

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

  2. 1342

    milton_common,_three_pigeons_04,_775x490.jpg
    775 x 490 mm

    Description: Rectangular shape; simulated rope edging; central panel comprising an anchor with coiled rope between two fleurs de lys, below which are two roses and a grape bunch; the two rectangular side panels each comprise a vertical stem with six grape bunches surmounted by a smaller bunch.

    Notes: A variant of the arrangement of panels that comprise one of the well-known 'Armada' firebacks (see no. 281), but without the semi-circular initials and date panel. While it is a plausible variant given the modular nature of the series, this is undoubtedly a 20th-century casting, and it is not possible to state with any certainty whether this is a copy of an early casting or a modern altered one.

    Manufactured: in the 20th century in England.

    Current location: not known.

  3. 1223

    west_peckham,_haven_hall.jpg
    775 x 575 mm

    Description: Rectangular; no edging; top centre, inscription, FF, and date, 1732, separated by a small saltire.

    Notes: The possibility exists that the initials are those of Francis Fairburn, whose descendants are known to have occupied the house where it lies.

    Inscription: FFx1732

    Manufactured: in 1732 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: in private hands, West Peckham, Kent, England.