FIRE-BACKS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 17 June 1905, Page 4

FIRE-BACKS

Br

George Cecil)

The origin of the fire-hack. like that of so many other pieces of antique furniture. is 'judging from the sparse information on the subject compiled by the most learned of our antiquarie-<

shrouded in mystery. However, we know that the earliest examples were comparatively plain, and that as foreign :n-

fluent were brought to bear on the work of the craftsmen the firebaeks derigwed for noblemen and wealthy landowners became things of beauty. There are many excellent specimens all over the country. One max see at the South Ken-ington Museum a lumber of remarkably line fire-backs of various periods. one of the niost interesting of which is that illustrated in Fig I. It is of cast iron, has an arched top. is divided quarterly, and is provided with an orb and cross at the intersection < f the divided lines. Each compartment is devoted to an atlegorieal -übjeet in relief, the bands which fill the background being embellished with an inscription. The subjects are as follows: I” fbe right top corner a nude female with a hawk perched on her right hand and holding in leash with her left hand a couple of hounds; in the left top compartment a similar figure holding in her right hand a pair of scales; in the right bottom-corner a draped female pointing to a group of dogs: and in the left bottom compartment a figure very similar to the one facing it- The inscriptions read: "HET .IS WEEN . SCHADT ..T TROWE .IS LIGHTER DAN . EE.\ PLVYM”: “ICH . I AGE .DM . DIK WINDEN”: "OFT ICH TROWE KO V DEN VENDEN”; TROWE . IS DOET . ONTRDWE . WF.KDT . VERHAVEV: AND "ONTKf»WE LOEPT OVER AL.” respectively. This fire-back was made in the sixteenth century, and the dimensions are two feet six and three-quar-ter inches by two feet two and a-balf inches. Another “South Kensington” example is illustrated in Fig. 2. and though not quite so interesting as the other, is. nevertheless, well worth the attention of the reader who finds herself near the Victoria and Albert section of this wonderful museum. It is decorated in relief, with a shield of arms, and surmounted by a crested helmet—the whole being surrounded by leafy- scrolls. If is a valuable specimen of a Sussex fire-hack nf the seventeenth century.

But one Joes n»t —in London, at all •vents —need to go to museums to admire fire-lau-ks. for in the picture galleries and in "Wolsey's Kitchen" at Hampton Court are a number of splendid examples. Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Chard lof H.M.ttflice of Works) we have been able to secure photographs of several of these unique fire-backs, some of which are so ancient and timeworn that it is not easy -as in Fig. 3) to distinguish the subject. Some are well preserved, notably that illustrated in Fig. 4. which shows a lady playing with a brace of snakes—possibly a pastime of the period! In Tjg- we have the figure of Neptune driving bis three horses.- and Fig. 6. which suggests a sacrifice, reminds us that our forbears took a deep interest in the Scriptures. The above fire-backs are kept in “M *dsey's Kitchen.” and are not generally shown to the public, but there are half a dozen in the picture galleries, one of whieh i representing the worship of the brazen serpent I w e reproduce in Fig. 7. The visitor to Hampton Court should make a special point of examining the fire-back illustrated in Fig. ti; it is exactlv similar to that owned by Miss Fresco, of Lincoln's Inn Fields. Remarkably fine example- are to be found in some of the old country-houses, many of these being truly magnificent. At Dvr ha 111 Park, the seat of the Rev. \\ . E. Blathwayt. is a particularly good example. ami many others exist in old houses in Sussex and elsewhere in England.

The fire-back, like the antique tender; is within the means of the modest roileetor. Although fancy price- are not unknown (the South Kensington Museum paid five piund- for the specimen shown in Fig. 2>. there are two or three dealers who are distinctly modest in their demands —and who ran be strictly depended upon to sell only genuine stuff. Thev are too wise (to put trade morality "on its lowest footing) to spoil the chance of future sales by taking advantage of the eagerness of the unsophisticated dilettante to foist on to her firebacks which have acquired a spurions appearance of age. Another advantage possessed by these delightful objects is that they take very little eleaning: the ■tupidest domestic ever turned out by a

training school cannot po--ibly damage them: and they can usually be fitted to the modern fireplace. It may not. perhaps, be out of place to add that the well-meaning people who in the summer months fill the grate with an armful of ehavings— amongst which golden threads are chastely entwined—might do worse than invest in a fire-back. Irreproachable ladies who devote their spare lime to making little pink {taper roses —with whieh to besprinkle the aforesaid monstrosity —would spend their leisure far better in exploring the establishments at which fire-backs are to be fount!.

It. was customary for the great families to have fire-baeks- decorated with their arms, while those ordered by city companies were often gorgeous affairs — as may be noted from Fig. 7. which is reproduced by permission of Mr. W. Binns. The example illustrated in Fig. 8 is Elizabethan, and gives an idea of the Royal Arms as they were before rite Union. This and the one shown in Fig. 9 are the property of Mr. Fenton, whilst that illustrated in Fig. !<• -reproduced

by permission of Miss Fresco) evidently represents David setting forth to slay Goliath—or Jack of the fairy-tale ready to annihilate the giant!