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poliphilo Petworth is home to the Mitford collection of firebacks.
A fireback is an iron plate placed at the back of the chimney to protect the wall behind and radiate heat into the room. They started being made in the late 15th century. The Kent and Sussex Weald was a centre of English iron manufacture but, oddly enough, most of the items in the Mitford Collection, though sourced locally, from cottages and farmhouses in West Sussex, were made in North-West Germany- and intended for the Dutch market. The majority date from the late 17th century.
Firebacks can be highly decorated- with mythological, religious and political images and emblems. Wooden stamps and patterns were used which allowed for popular designs to be mass produced.
The Mitford firebacks are displayed stapled to the wallls of the very long corridor in the servants quarters. You pass between them on your way to the cafe.....
I took some pictures.....
This first example features a group of aristocratic worthies of interest to 17th century Dutch people
The second, which is my favourite, has the personification of the Dutch republic- Hollandia- sitting inside a fort- accompanied by the fighting lion of the house of Nassau. The thing on the end of the pole is a liberty cap- a less inflammatory forerunner of the red bonnet of the French revolution . It is usefully dated 1662
Finally, here's the story of Susannah and the Elders- a racy subject rendered family friendly by its Biblical origins.
A fireback is an iron plate placed at the back of the chimney to protect the wall behind and radiate heat into the room. They started being made in the late 15th century. The Kent and Sussex Weald was a centre of English iron manufacture but, oddly enough, most of the items in the Mitford Collection, though sourced locally, from cottages and farmhouses in West Sussex, were made in North-West Germany- and intended for the Dutch market. The majority date from the late 17th century.
Firebacks can be highly decorated- with mythological, religious and political images and emblems. Wooden stamps and patterns were used which allowed for popular designs to be mass produced.
The Mitford firebacks are displayed stapled to the wallls of the very long corridor in the servants quarters. You pass between them on your way to the cafe.....
I took some pictures.....
This first example features a group of aristocratic worthies of interest to 17th century Dutch people
The second, which is my favourite, has the personification of the Dutch republic- Hollandia- sitting inside a fort- accompanied by the fighting lion of the house of Nassau. The thing on the end of the pole is a liberty cap- a less inflammatory forerunner of the red bonnet of the French revolution . It is usefully dated 1662
Finally, here's the story of Susannah and the Elders- a racy subject rendered family friendly by its Biblical origins.
