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.
The fireplace looks fascinating dear Margaret 🥰
ReplyDeleteThe symbol are beyond my comprehension though but look intriguing 😊
Health,peace and happiness to you and yours my friend 🥰♥️
Thank you Baili. Interesting old fireplace.
DeleteIt’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!
ReplyDeleteWould be good if someone could Asep, I'll just have to wait and see.
DeleteVery interesting. I don't recognise the quatrefoil .
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting and it may have well been thought up by the carver himself and he took the meaning with him when he expired.
DeleteIt is a beautiful and focal centerpiece with lovely ornate details.
ReplyDeleteIt is Linda. It suited the room which it's in.
DeleteThe fireplace is very beautiful. I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marit.
DeleteThat's a talent artist. I wonder what he was convicted of.
ReplyDeleteA 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.
DeleteHá muito venho tentando. Só hoje consegui seguir seu blog.
ReplyDeleteIs 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?
ReplyDeleteThere could be a meaning, a story Crystal.
DeleteThat's a very beautiful one!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, Angie.
DeleteIt is a beautiful fireplace.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too.
DeleteThe fireplace is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'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
Well whoever the 'unfortunate convict" was - he sure was an artisan.
DeleteI 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.
Thank you very much Jan, will look now.
DeleteColin, you do write some not so good things at times..lol
Those carvings seem to whisper forgotten stories
ReplyDeleteThere would be many tales to tell whilst doing those carvings.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful fireplace.
Unfortunately I don't know what the symbols mean.
I wish you a nice weekend.
Greetings Irma
Thank you Irma.
DeleteI am unable to help but I enjoyed seeing the fireplace.
ReplyDeleteThe fireplace works well in winter with the fire burning in it, nice and warm.
DeleteEin schöner Kamin ob die Symbole eine Bedeutung haben weiß ich nicht ist Kunst das muss man nicht verstehen. :)
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
No you are right Noke, you don't have to understand the art of it.
DeleteI have no idea, but it is nice.
ReplyDeleteI've got a bit of an idea but that's all, Mary.
DeleteThat is one nice looking fireplace
ReplyDeleteBeautiful to see in reality, Jo-Anne.
DeleteNot a clue but it sure is pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt is rather pretty, nice to look at for sure, R.
DeleteSo fascinating to think these carvings could be a convict’s legacy. Fingers crossed someone cracks the code behind those mysterious symbols!
ReplyDeleteQuizás preguntando en la Inteligencia Artificial y mostrando las fotos te lo podrían aclarar.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas un buen fin de semana de descanso.
Such wonderful detail!!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
Those carvings are absolutely stunning. Each stone of the fireplace can tell us something. The flower in your 2nd picture seems a rose, which is widely recognized for symbolizing family love and close relationship. Actually, fireplace is a symbol across cultures representing warmth, home and family.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Sunday ☀
Beautiful and interesting fireplace.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but I have no idea what the symbols mean.
Have a great weekend
What a fascinating piece of history—there’s something deeply moving about seeing craftsmanship from so long ago, especially when its meaning remains a mystery. The connection to the Ross Bridge adds even more intrigue. Hopefully someone with knowledge of historical symbols will shed light on it.
ReplyDeleteI just shared a blog post you are invited to read. Thank you: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/07/the-boxer-shorts-trend-castle-test.html