{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78432"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78432/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND5571/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND5571/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022ND5571","copyright":"Image supplied by Jeremy Hodgkinson","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8675","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AF3914","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78432/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78432","accessionNumber":"M.119-1984","objectType":"Fireback","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This rectangular fireback dates from 1649. In order to protect the brickwork, slabs of cast iron like this one were placed on the wall at the back of the fireplace, where they also served to radiate heat into the room.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>The image of a snake rising from flames to bite an outstretched hand refers to a passage from the Bible (Acts 28: 3-6) which describes St Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. On landing he lit a fire and as he did so a viper emerged from the flames and bit him.  The people of Malta took this to mean that Paul was a murderer but when they saw that he was unhurt they realised that he must be holy.<br><br><b>Iconography</b><br>Fireback decoration often included stories involving fire, but sometimes there was also a political theme. As this example is dated 1649 the choice of subject matter may refer to the execution of Charles I. The same design appears in G. Whitney's <i>A choice of Emblemes</i> (Leyden, 1586) with the title 'If God be with us, who can be against us?', and with the following verse appended: 'His servauntes God preserves, thoughe they in danger fall: Even as from vipers deadlie bite, he kept th'Appostle Paule.'","physicalDescription":"Fireback made of cast iron, it shows the New Testament story of St Paul shaking a snake from his hand into the fire. The fireback is dated 1649 and features the initials IM. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast iron","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Ironwork","id":"THES251837"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2022ND5571","2006AM8675","2006AF3914"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"56D","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"WE","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fireback","id":"AAT3985"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1649","earliest":"1649-01-01","latest":"1649-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"47.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"56","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/03/2000 by DW","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The same initials, IM, also appear on M.113-1953. Indeed, these initials appear on several other different firebacks, including 492-1901 in the museum's collection (although they are illegible on that casting), which suggests that it is likely that they are those of the person who carved the wooden patterns from which the sand moulds were formed.","historicalContext":"The museum is grateful for images and information supplied by the researcher and author, Jeremy Hodgkinson FSA, 30 March 2022","briefDescription":"Fireback depicting story of St Paul and the snake, cast iron, England, 1649","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lloyd, N. Domestic Ironwork. I. Firebacks. <u>Archaeological Review</u>. LVIII, 1925.  pp.58-67."},{"reference":{"text":"Hodgkinson, Jeremy. <u>British Cast-Iron Firebacks of the 16th to Mid-18th Centuries</u>. Crawley: HodgersBooks. 2010","id":"AUTH344846"},"details":"fig. 256, pp. 177, 257","free":""}],"production":"Dated 1649","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Fire","id":"x47334"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThis iron panel protected the brickwork at the back of a fireplace. The decoration, taken from a book of emblems (see photograph), relates to the bible story of St Paul. When he was shipwrecked on Malta, he lit a fire from which a viper arose and bit him. After he survived, the people of Malta decided he was a god.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"FIREBACK\nCast iron\nEngland; dated 1649\n\nThis shows the New Testament story of St Paul shaking a snake from his hand into the fire (Acts, ch. 28, verses 3-6). St Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta while on the way to Rome to be put on trial. On landing he made a fire and a viper or adder came out of the flames and bit his hand. At first the Maltese thought that this meant that Paul was a murderer, but when he revealed he was unhurt they decided he must be a God. Events involving fire were appropriate subject-matter for firebacks and this story is depicted on another example on this wall (Museum No. 889-1901). The image may also refer to the execution of King Charles I in 1649.\n\nMuseum No. M.119-1984","date":{"text":"07/1994","earliest":"1994-07-01","latest":"1994-07-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.119-1984"],"accessionNumberNum":"119","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1984,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN6308","2019LP9138","2019LP5843","2019LV0343"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-15","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}