Firebacks

Manufactured in 1695

  1. 29

    burwash,_batemans 07c.jpg
    897 x 490 mm

    Description: Rectangular; cavetto moulded edging; initials in top left corner; date in top right corner.

    Notes: The style of lettering and numerals is reminiscent of those seen on firebacks associated with the Sidneys, Earls of Leicester, and may suggest a common source.

    Inscription: IB 1695

    Manufactured: in 1695 possibly in the Weald area of England.

    Current location: Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex, England.

    Museum number: 761128 (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).

  2. 981

    ickenham,_swakeleys house.jpg
    ~720 x ~990 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; broad, fillet-edged central panel with pictorial landscape and battle scene; on top, above a cone of laurel leaves, a crown supported by two putti, each holding a plant stem; on each side, a flower and fruit festoon suspended on a ribbon from a ring; at the bottom , inscription on a scroll.

    Notes: The pictorial scene is alleged to be the Siege of Namur of 1695 in which British and Dutch forces, under the leadership of William III, defeated the French forces of Louis XIV, however details of the scene more closely resemble those seen in images of the Siege of Vienna in 1683, an iconic victory of the Christian powers over the Ottoman Turks.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: NON[...]ROSEDARMIS / N ANNO 1695 L

    Manufactured: in 1695 possibly in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Swakeley's House, Ickenham, Middlesex, England.

    Citation: Godfrey, W. H., 1933, Survey of London Monograph 13, Swakeleys, Ickenham (London, HMSO).

  3. 538

    petworth_019.jpg
    720 x 990 mm

    Description: Arched rectangular shape; fillet edging; blank arched rectangular central panel with rebated fillet edging; on top, above a cone of laurel leaves, a crown supported by two putti, each holding a plant stem; on each side, a flower and fruit festoon suspended on a ribbon from a ring; at the bottom , inscription on a scroll.

    Notes: A border panel, usually incorporated with a separate pictorial central panel.

    Copies of this fireback are known.

    Inscription: [...]O 1695

    Manufactured: in 1695 in the Siegerland area of Germany.

    Current location: Petworth House, Petworth, Kent, England.

    Museum number: NT/PET/M/93 (part of the National Trust museum group)

  4. 818

    unknown_30_790x700a.jpg
    790 x 700 mm

    Description: Quasi-arched rectangular shape; on a ground, an armorial achievement comprising a central cartouche on which is an oval shield bearing the arms of the Cavendish family, with graduated bead edging; supporters, two stags rampant; above the cartouche, on a wreath a coiled snake crest surmounted by an earl’s coronet; the date split either side of the crest; to each side, a column with foliate capital supporting a three-sided arch with ovolo-moulded edging, on each shoulder of which is a flaming orb.

    Notes: The arms are those of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire (1640-1707), but the fireback is of the arms of the Earls of Devonshire; an earlier casting shows a date of 1657; on this casting the second pair of numerals of the date has been changed. Christie's auction 3 Dec 2014 lot 15 (dated incorrectly as 1693) (£1,875).

    Inscription: 1695

    Arms: William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, as 4th Earl of Devonshire

    Manufactured: in 1695 in England.

    Current location:, not known.