The present fireback is reputed to have been excavated from a garden in Wilmington, near Polegate in Sussex in the 1930's. The two figures portrayed on the fire back closely resemble sixteenth century illustrations of North and South American Indians, and some of the earliest examples of tobacconist figures. The central mask with its wreath-like surround is very similar to a pottery mask of the 'Brede Ogre', in Hastings Museum - a gentleman named Sir Goddard Oxenbridge, d. 1531, who was reputed to have eaten live children, and whose recumbent effigy may be seen today in Brede Church. The arched top on the fireback and relative complexity of the depicted scene, would suggest that the cast for the present example was taken from a carved wooden master. Prior to the mid seventeenth century decorations on firebacks were impressed by hand into the sand mould using readily available objects.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
J. Mainwaring Baines, F.S.A., Wealden Firebacks, Hastings Museum Publications. Page 7, example plate 10.