Firebacks

Manufactured in 1604

  1. 1012

    east_preston, bay tree cottage (country life 1959) 762x533.jpg
    762 x 533 mm

    Description: Canted rectangle with twisted rope edging (top and sides); rope line separating rectangle from trapezoidal section, which is, in turn, separated by rope lines into a central rectangle containing a rebated lozenge stamp beneath the date (reversed), and two mirrored triangles each containing what appear to be mirrored stamps of a bird, possibly a partridge, and an initial; both the initials and the date are reversed.

    Notes: Reversal of numerals and letters is not uncommon on firebacks.

    Inscription: E [or] F 16 04 C

    Manufactured: in 1604 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: not known.

    Citation: Eschbaecher, J., 22 Jan 1959, 'Why in reverse?' [letter], Country Life, p. 153.

  2. 103

    haslemere_museum 01.jpg
    320 x 250 mm

    Description: Rectangular; flanged or astragal and fillett edging; female portrait in a medallion of three concentric rings; date split between four corners

    Notes: An unusually small stoveplate.

    Inscription: 1 6 [?0] 4

    Manufactured: in 1604 possibly in the Eifel area of Germany.

    Current location: Haslemere Educational Museum, Haslemere, Surrey, England.

    (part of the Haslemere Educational Museum museum group)

  3. 360

    lamberhurst,_scotney castle 01.jpg
    780 x 580 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; ovolo edging; Stuart royal arms of England (quarterly, 1st and 4th, France and England, 2nd Scotland and 3rd Ireland) with garter, crown, motto and supporters; initials either side of lion’s head; date either side of unicorn’s head.

    Notes: The slightly awkward positioning of the date suggests it was added later.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: I R [Iacobus Rex] 16 04 / DEV ET MON DROIT

    Arms: English Stuart royal - James I

    Manufactured: in 1604 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent, England.

    Museum number: 791456 (part of the National Trust museum group)

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