Antique Woodworks crafts rustic fireplace mantels (mantles) and mantel shelves from reclaimed wood barn beams, original settler log cabin logs, and other interesting pieces of old wood. We get varieties such as hand-hewn pine, circle-sawn white oak, and wormy tamarack, just to name a few. We also keep fun items aside such as scarf joints, square nails, rusty bolts, and metal straps.
Picking a fireplace mantel is a bit like picking a pumpkin. Some people like round ones, some people like skinny ones. Some people like bumpy ones, and others like smooth ones. Some like 'em orange, and some like 'em white. Regardless, you look for the one that speaks to you and you say, "That's the one I've been looking for."
Where to begin? First, shuffle through a few of the pictures installed mantel photo gallery. See if you can spy something that is close to what strikes a chord. Look at the color, texture, fills/no fills, exposed end grains, face style, proportions, etc...
You can also browse through our selection of raw mantel wood for building a your own fireplace mantel. We have plenty more available, these are just a few pieces with good potential that we have laying around. Admittedly, not everyone can see the transition from rough stock to a finished piece.
Likewise, the unique mantel section
has a few curiosities that'll be wonderful for the just the right place (or creative person). We also have a few finished mantels in stock, but we can't seem to hold on to them. So what to do....
Give us call or send email with some general dimensions and some thoughts of your taste. We'll wonder the yard and find a few good options. We'll take pictures of the exact beams in stock. While we wish you were here to pick one out yourself, this is the next best thing.
Together, we'll select just the right wood. You can buy it as-is or we can work like little beavers to make a splendid mantel (mantle).
Let's step back for a moment. There's lots of nice fireplace mantels out there, but our fireplace mantels (mantles) are kind of incredible. These are a real piece of history. Some of our most popular fireplace mantels (mantles) are authentic logs and timbers from original pioneer log cabins. In May of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. The act provided settlers with 160 acres of surveyed public land after payment of a filing fee and five years of continuous residence.
When settler's first arrived in the area, the quickest, easiest, cheapest structure to build was a small log cabin (or barn). Once the farmer was established, log buildings were often updated or removed. In several cases, we have seen old logs that were from the original 1800s log cabin being re-used for big floor joists, also known as sleeper beams, in a 1900s barn.
So even before we reclaim and reuse the old wood, it may already be on it's second or third use.
This is the real thing. When these log cabins were being used, German was the primary language of the area, some bison were still roaming the prairie, the 1862 Dakota Indian Conflict was still in memory, horses pulled the farm equipment, and newspapers still reported when any of the townspeople began the 50 mile wagon ride into Minneapolis.
From history to a mantel in your home. 100+ year old ax marks. This is pretty cool.
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© 2003-2008 Antique Woodworks, Inc.
Millwork Facilities near Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN) in Gaylord, Minnesota (MN)
Nationwide Shipping - California(CA) - Texas(TX) - Illinois(IL) - New York(NY) - Pennsylvania(PA) - Florida(FL)
Farm Table, Wood Countertops, Fireplace Mantels, and Antique Wood Flooring
Contact us at: 888-350-4790 or info@antiquewoodworks.com
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