-
1056
Description: Canted rectangle; moulded fillet edging (top and sides); top line, 'daisy' plant stamp repeated three times, spaced evenly, with 'SOWLY' in a block, a ducal coronet above, between the left two, and '1721' in individual numerals, a ducal coronet above, between the right two; a swirling foliage stamp repeated down each side, a 'daisy' plant below each; initials 'I' and 'B' separately in bottom corners.
Notes: Sowley was the iron furnace in Hampshire owned in 1721 by the 2nd duke of Montagu, whose coronet is seen in the decoration, and operated by John White of Monmouth. The swirled foliage stamp is seen on other firebacks identified by the letters 'IB' between 1703 and 1721, probably indicating the same founder.
Inscription: SOWLY 1721 / I B
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- moulded fillet (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- heraldic
- text
- plants
Manufactured: in 1721 at Sowley Furnace, Beaulieu in the New Forest area of England.
Current location: Palace House, Beaulieu, Hampshire, England.
- Attached to series:
- IB series
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241
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging (top and sides); irregular arrangement of two rectangular pastry stamps, each with a fleur de lys within fern leaves, and one with three additional fern leaves below; the smaller stamps form the four corners, with the larger stamp, three times, in a triangular pattern between.
Notes: Various excrescences on the plate were probably the result of careless pouring of the metal during casting.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- objects
Manufactured: in the mid- to late-16th century possibly at Pounsley Furnace, Framfield in the Weald area of England.
Current location: in private hands Kensington and Chelsea, London, England.
- Attached to series:
- Pounsley series
- Food mould stamp firebacks
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1124
Description: Canted rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides); initial in each top corner, the S angled to the right.
Notes: Initial letters are in high relief. The Pedestal Auction, Cirencester, 4 Mar 2019, lot 155 (£240).
Inscription: W S
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- text
Manufactured: in the 17th century in England.
Current location: not known.
- Attached to series:
- Initials only firebacks
-
44
Description: Rectangular; astragal edging; simple diamond pattern covering whole plate, formed from evenly-spaced diagonal lines.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- astragal (edging)
- whole carved pattern
- objects
Manufactured: .
Current location: in private hands, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous pattern firebacks
-
330
Description: Rectangular; plain edge; top centre, ring between repeated lion's head between repeated narrow human figure with folded arms standing on a bracket; below each figure, a small bracket.
Notes: The figures are indistinct and are disproportionately small for the size of the firebacks; from Isfield Place 1921.
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- none (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- animals
- humans
- objects
Manufactured: in the late-19th to early-20th century in England.
Current location: Horsham Museum, Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex, England.
(part of the Horsham Museum museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Miscellaneous stamp firebacks
-
1156
Description: Arched rectangular shape; stylised twisted rope edging; centred, 'C & G' above 'S' above '1929', all between four stylised rope saltires.
Notes: A twentieth century fireback designed and executed in a traditional form.
Inscription: C & G / S / 1929
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with round arch (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1929 in England.
Current location: Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Wiltshire, England.
Museum number: 1545478 (part of the National Trust museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Date & initials firebacks
-
372
Description: Rectangular with canted top corners; twisted rope edging all round except on bottom; three impressions of two circular wafering irons: the central one with invected edge, a heart surmounted by a cross beneath which scroll-work is arranged symmetrically, inscription around edge; the two outer stamps comprise a central motif of four hearts arranged in a cross shape, their points facing the centre, within two concentric bands decorated with lace-like patterns. Above each of the two outer stamps is a simple four-pointed cross shape formed from short lengths of twisted rope.
Notes: The use of wafering irons or butter prints as stamps in casting firebacks is infrequent. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
Inscription: ...N:YOU:NOT: REIVE:MY:HERT:IS:YOURES / [?]1562
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular with canted top corners (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- apotropaic
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in 1562 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.048 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Hughes, G. B., 21 Apr 1955, 'Old English Firebacks', Country Life, 117, pp. 1056-60.
Citation: Hughes, G. B., May 1940, 'Old English Firebacks', Apollo, 31, 185, pp. 117-120.
- Attached to series:
- Food mould stamp firebacks
- Heart cross stamp series
-
386
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging on top and sides; date placed centrally near top.
Notes: A similar fireback with slightly different proportions has the same date using the same numerals. Formerly at the Anchor Hotel, Eastbourne, Sussex.
Inscription: 1679
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1679 in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Anne of Cleves House, Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: LH000.910 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
Citation: Dawson, C., 1903, 'Sussex Iron Work and Pottery', Sussex Archaeological Collections, 46, pp. 1-54.
- Attached to series:
- Date only firebacks
- 1679 Wealden series
-
1072
Description: Rectangular shape; ovolo-moulded edging (top and sides); date top centre; initials split below date.
Notes: The initials are believed to relate to Thomas Hughes (1604-64), MP and Governor of Chepstow Castle, who lived at Moynes Court, Mathern; a slightly larger variant of the same date but without initials has been noted; the right edge is concealed behind stonework.
Inscription: 1658 / T H
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- ovolo (edging)
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- individual numbers
- text
Manufactured: in 1658 possibly at Tintern Furnace in the Forest of Dean area of Wales.
Current location: in private hands, Mathern, Monmouthshire, Wales.
- Attached to series:
- 1640-50s Dean series
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495
Description: Rectangular; twisted rope edging on top and sides; five stamps formed from a circular butter print with a diamond-shaped central element, divided in four, surrounded by a circular border with zig-zag pattern and a raised edge. The letters are interspaced with the top row of three stamps.
Notes: Butter prints were made of wood, and smaller than wafering irons. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.
Inscription: T T T B
- Decoration tags:
- rectangular (shape)
- rope (edging)
- simple stamps
- carved stamps
- individual letters
- text
- objects
Manufactured: in the 16th century in the Weald area of England.
Current location: Michelham Priory, Arlington, East Sussex, England.
Museum number: 1944.24.455 (part of the Sussex Archaeological Society museum group)
- Attached to series:
- Food mould stamp firebacks