Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ironwork, Room 113

Fireback

1500-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
France (made)

This is the top fragment of a 16th-century cast-iron fireback bearing the Royal Arms of Scotland and the motto IN DEFENS (IN DEFENS). It is unlikely the fireback was made in Scotland. The arched shape of this fragment is more typical of firebacks made in Lorraine or the Spanish Netherlands and bears some similarity with a fireback cast with the English Stuart arms in the early-17th century, which also has a probable European origin.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Ironwork
Object type
Fireback
Materials and techniques
Cast iron
Iron
Casting
Brief description
Fireback bearing the Royal Arms and supporters of Scotland with the motto 'IN DEFENS', cast iron, probably made in Eastern France, 1500-1600.
Physical description
Part of a fireback of cast iron bearing the Royal Arms and supporters of Scotland with the motto, IN DEFENS. The upper part only, with arched top showing half the shield of arms supported by two unicorns and ensigned with a helmet with mantling and crest.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41cm
  • Width: 56cm
  • Depth: 2cm
Marks and inscriptions
'IN DEFENS'
Translation
In Defence
Gallery label
  • FIREBACK FRAGMENT Cast iron Eastern France or Belgium; 1500-1600 Despite depicting the upper half of the Scottish royal arms with unicorn supporters and the motto IN DEFENS (in defence), it is unlikely this fireback was made in Scotland. The arched shape of this fragment is typical of firebacks made in Lorraine or the Spanish Netherlands Mrs C. Starkie Gardner Collection Museum No. 891-1901(22/03/2022)
  • [Superseded content] FIREBACK FRAGMENT Cast iron England or Scotland; 16th century Depicting the upper half of the Scottish royal arms with unicorn supporters and the motto IN DEFENS (in defence). Mrs C. Starkie Gardner Collection Museum No. 891-1901(1994)
Object history
The arched shape of this fragment is more typical of firebacks made in Lorraine or the Spanish Netherlands and bears some similarity with a fireback cast with the English Stuart arms in the early-17th century, which also has a probable European origin.
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
Coat of Arms
Shield
Mantle
Crest
Summary
This is the top fragment of a 16th-century cast-iron fireback bearing the Royal Arms of Scotland and the motto IN DEFENS (IN DEFENS). It is unlikely the fireback was made in Scotland. The arched shape of this fragment is more typical of firebacks made in Lorraine or the Spanish Netherlands and bears some similarity with a fireback cast with the English Stuart arms in the early-17th century, which also has a probable European origin.
Bibliographic references
  • Boutell C, English Heraldry, 6th edition, pp.273-4
  • Gloag, John and Derek Bridgwater. A history of cast iron in architecture. London : G. Allen and Unwin. 1948. 395p., ill. fig.21, p.24
  • 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
891-1901

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O324682/fireback-unknown/
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