Firebacks

Description: Arched shape; fillet edging; top centre, date; decorative Tudor royal shield, crown, garter (motto clockwise but reversed) and supporters (dragon and greyhound); a rose to the left and a portcullis (grid of 6) to the right side of crown; the supporters stand on a horizontal compartment which, on similar firebacks, often contains the date.

Notes: There are several firebacks with the Tudor royal arms that were probably originally produced in the Spanish Netherlands, perhaps illustrating the association between England and Spain through the marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. The firebacks differ in several small details, such as the form and rotation of the Garter motto, the style of the crown, the positioning of the supporters in relation to the Garter, and the form and size of the rose and portcullis.

Inscription: 15 70 / HONY SOYT QVI MAL Y PENSE

Arms: English royal Tudor

Description: Arch-shaped; fillet edge; at top, date split by crown (horizontal of '7' missing), crown over a Tudor shield, garter (motto clockwise but reversed) and supporters; rose with viscount's coronet on dexter, and portcullis (grid of 16) with viscount's coronet on sinister side of crown; the supporters, a dragon and a greyhound, stand on separate plinths; the initials, G C, are placed in either side of the garter buckle.

Notes: There are several firebacks with the Tudor royal arms that were probably originally produced in the Spanish Netherlands, perhaps illustrating the association between England and Spain through the marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. The firebacks differ in several small details, such as the shape of the shield, the form and rotation of the Garter motto, the style of the crown, the positioning of the supporters in relation to the Garter, and the form and size of the crowned rose and portcullis. Hôtel Drouot auction, Paris, 21 Jan 2023, lot 89.

Inscription: 15 70 / HONY SOYT QVI MAL Y PENSE / G C

Arms: Tudor royal