-
45
Description: Rectangular; ovolo-moulded, gadrooned edging (top and sides); a vertical spindle or chair leg surmounted by a fleur-de-lys arranged three times; the date split by the middle fleur-de-lys.
Notes: The fleur-de-lys is separately stamped from the spindle, and the same spindle is seen on another fireback of the same date.
Inscription: 1641
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- gadrooned (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1641 possibly at Cuckfield Furnace in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Spindle series
- Spindle/distaff firebacks
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1018
Description: Arched rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging, invected on the inner edge; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown, supporters and motto; monogram to right of unicorn supporter.
Notes: The monogram probably identifies the pattern-maker, whose invected edging seems to be a distinctive style.
Copies of this fireback are known.
Inscription: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE / RN / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- monogram
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in the early- to mid-17th century in England.
Current location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, England.
Museum number: AAA3476 (part of the National Maritime Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- RN series
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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374
Description: Quasi-rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); a length of twisted rope stamped six times to form a saltire and two crosses across the width of the plate; surplus iron extends from all sides.
Notes: The surplus iron resulted from over filling of the mould. The crosses are likely to have Christian significance. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.037 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Hughes, G. B., May 1940, 'Old English Firebacks', Apollo, 31, 185, pp. 117-120.
- Attached to series:
- Rope design firebacks
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644
Description: Formerly arched rectangular, arch now missing; cavetto-moulded edging, invected on the inner edge; English royal Stuart shield, garter, crown (mainly missing), supporters and motto; date split either side of crown; monogram to right of unicorn supporter.
Notes: The monogram probably identifies the pattern-maker, whose invected edging seems to be a distinctive style. From another fireback of the same design (no. 1018), complete with the arch, the height is approx 710mm.
Inscription: 1638 / HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE / RN / DIEV ET MON DROIT
Arms: English Stuart royal
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- invested cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- individual numbers
- monogram
- armorial
- royal
- text
Manufactured: in 1638 in England.
Current location: Six Poor Travellers House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, England.
Museum number: A4328 (part of the Rochester Guildhall Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- RN series
- Carolean royal armorial firebacks
- Stuart royal armorial firebacks
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1021
Description: Rectangular; cavetto-moulded edging; shield mounted on a strap-work cartouche, helm, crest, motto scroll and elaborate swirled mantling.
Notes: The arms of the Ironmongers' Company; blazon: Argent, on a chevron gules, between three gads of steel azure, three swivels or; crest: two talbots combatant encoupled together or. The true crest of the company has two salamanders (originally 'scaly lizards') rather than talbots, and it has been noted on other firebacks that salamanders are not always represented as amphibians; Samuel Lyne, in his Heraldry Display'd (1741), described the crest as 'two talbots', etc. The motto scroll is blank, indicating that the pattern was an armorial panel with a painted, rather than a carved, motto. A variant of the same fireback has the date 1660 and initials GI (Country Life, 8 March 1946, p. 450; 29 March 1946, p.588). Reeman Dansie auction, Colchester, 13 Apr 2016, lot 1224; Bellman's auction, Wisborough Green, 13 Oct 2021, lot 588 (£220).
Copies of this fireback are known.
Arms: Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- cavetto (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- armorial
Manufactured: in the mid-17th century in England.
Current location:, not known.
- Attached to series:
- Livery company firebacks
- Armorial panel firebacks
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1258
Description: Broken and fragmentary; canted quasi-rectangular shape, with sides inclined; twisted rope edging; top centre, date with initials below separated by a fleur-de-lys; seven fleurs-de-lys down each side, pints perpendicular to rope edging; a fleur beneath each initial, possibly other fleurs and another initial missing in between.
Notes: The fleurs-de-lys are of a distinctive form apparently unique to this series of firebacks.
Inscription: 1628 / S G
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- heraldic
- text
Manufactured: in 1628 in the Forest of Dean area of England.
Current location: 31 Long Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England.
- Attached to series:
- 1620s Dean series
- Date & initials firebacks