Friday, 4 July 2025

The Fireplace

This fireplace is located in a house in Ross, Tasmania and at the front or adjoining is a cafe and shop.  I thought I'd done a post on inside the shop but can't find it, will do it later.

Anyway the owner of the house and cafe showed us this old fireplace in his office, asked me could I share it online as someone somewhere might help solve or come up with ideas of what these motives mean.  It's thought one of the convicts who carved the designs on the Ross Bridge [ here ] may have been done by one of them or the same person/s.  The bridge was completed in 1836.
Does anyone know what these symbols mean?  Or have a suggestion.





26 comments:

  1. The fireplace looks fascinating dear Margaret 🥰
    The symbol are beyond my comprehension though but look intriguing 😊
    Health,peace and happiness to you and yours my friend 🥰♥️

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  2. It’s so cool to think a convict artisan may have left this mark behind. I hope someone out there can shed light on the meanings behind those symbols!

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    Replies
    1. Would be good if someone could Asep, I'll just have to wait and see.

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  3. Very interesting. I don't recognise the quatrefoil .

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    1. It is interesting and it may have well been thought up by the carver himself and he took the meaning with him when he expired.

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  4. It is a beautiful and focal centerpiece with lovely ornate details.

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  5. The fireplace is very beautiful. I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Take care.

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  6. That's a talent artist. I wonder what he was convicted of.

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    1. A good tradesman in his day, and if we new who he was we might be able to find out what he did back in his homeland. Sometimes these convicts didn't do much wrong at all.

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  7. Há muito venho tentando. Só hoje consegui seguir seu blog.

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  8. Is there a meaning, or is it just art? We lived in a historic house once and I didn't pause to look at the stonework on the marble mantles and question what it meant. I just appreciated the beauty. But maybe there is meaning?

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  9. The fireplace is beautiful.
    I'm sorry, I can't help you with the meaning of the symbols/Quatrefoil
    I did see if Wikipedia could help ...
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatrefoil

    All the best Jan

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    Replies
    1. Well whoever the 'unfortunate convict" was - he sure was an artisan.
      I wonder what his "crime" was ????
      Walking across a field belonging to a member of the "inbred" British
      aristocracy?????
      Anyhow they are all still inbred - just watch "LADY" Colin Clark
      being interviewed - she can hardly get the words out with her snobbishness!
      I think Lady ( minus the Colin) is the keeper of the Queens Robes????????
      Such lovely (?????) titles. Her dressing good old HORSE FACE - ha ha,
      Cheers
      Colin

      Weather - at last sunshine and the beach is still there - the waves
      were at least 20 feet PLUS high and the erosion - sure keeping the council workers busy.

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    2. Thank you very much Jan, will look now.

      Colin, you do write some not so good things at times..lol

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  10. Those carvings seem to whisper forgotten stories

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    Replies
    1. There would be many tales to tell whilst doing those carvings.

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  11. Hello Margaret,
    What a beautiful fireplace.
    Unfortunately I don't know what the symbols mean.
    I wish you a nice weekend.
    Greetings Irma

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  12. I am unable to help but I enjoyed seeing the fireplace.

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