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Fireback

ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

Cast iron fireback depicting the New Testament story of St Paul on Malta, shaking the viper from his hand into the fire (Acts, chapter 28, verses 3-6).


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Ironwork
Object type
Fireback
Materials and techniques
Cast iron
Iron
Casting
Brief description
Fireback depicting St Paul on Malta shaking the viper from his hand into the fire, cast iron, made in England, ca. 1650
Physical description
Cast iron fireback depicting the New Testament story of St Paul on Malta, shaking the viper from his hand into the fire (Acts, chapter 28, verses 3-6).
Dimensions
  • Height: 425mm
  • Width: 570mm
  • Depth: 30mm
Gallery label
FIREBACK Cast iron England; c. 1650 With the New Testament story of St Paul on Malta, shaking the viper from his hand into the fire (Acts, chapter 28, verses 3-6). The same story is depicted on another fireback on this wall (Museum No. M.119-1984). Museum No. 889-1901(07/1994)
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
Snakes
Saint Paul
Bibliographic references
  • 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
889-1901

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O324683/fireback-unknown/
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