Not on display

Stove Plate

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

Cast iron stove plate depicting a woman, representing the figure of Charity, with two children. Beneath is the inscription 'CHARITAS'.

Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Ironwork
Object type
Stove plate
Materials and techniques
Cast iron
Iron
Casting
Brief description
Stove plate depicting a woman and two children above the inscription 'CHARITAS', cast iron, made in England, probably cast from a Dutch or German model, 17th century
Physical description
Cast iron stove plate depicting a woman, representing the figure of Charity, with two children. Beneath is the inscription 'CHARITAS'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 610mm
  • Width: 410mm
  • Depth: 25mm
Marks and inscriptions
'CHARITAS'
Gallery label
(07/1994)
STOVE PLATE
Cast iron
England; 17th century

The figures of a woman and two children forming a group symbolise Charity, with the inscription CHARITAS below. Personifications of Virtues were often used on firebacks and stove plates - see also the plate nearby with Justice and Faith (Museum No. 142-1898). This was probably cast from a Dutch or German model.

Museum No. 890-1901
Historical context
The museum is grateful for images and information supplied by the researcher and author, Jeremy Hodgkinson FSA, 30 March 2022
Subjects depicted
Fire
Figures (Representations)
Women
Children
Charity
Bibliographic references
  • Gloag, John and Derek Bridgwater. A history of cast iron in architecture. London : G. Allen and Unwin. 1948. 395p., ill. Fig.31, p.29.
  • Butterfield, W. Ruskin. Old Wealden Firebacks. The Connoisseur. Dec. 1916. pp.197-206.
  • Lloyd, N. Domestic Ironwork. I. Firebacks. Archaeological Review. LVIII, 1925. pp.58-67.
  • Starkie Gardner, J. Iron Casting in the Weald. Archaeologie. LVI, May 12th 1898. pp.133-164.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
890-1901

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O295679/stove-plate-unknown/
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