— We can custom build mantels with ironwork.  See our Fireplace Mantels with Iron Straps and Metal Accents page.–

Here’s a hand-hewn oak mantel with real blacksmith iron straps applied.  This is a very nice piece. We generally do not pre-apply ironwork to mantels because of all of the variations that our customers seek. In this case, the mantel had a severe saw cut in it that looked quite old. However, it was distracting from the appearance of the mantel. So, we chose to hide and cover it with some wonderful metalwork.

Our primary blacksmith, Wyatt Bienfang, at WLB Blacksmith Shop does real, honest blacksmith work with a coal forge, hammer, and anvil. Coal forges give the metal a better color than many of the gas forges commonly used today. In addition, all of the designs that you see on our site are originals created by either Antique Woodworks or WLB Blacksmith. Wyatt carefully works the hot iron to fit snuggly with the irregularly shaped, original hand-hewn material. There is lots of little tweaking to get it just right. The rivets are also handmade. They are shaped and sized to match each individual mantel. It also has some pleasant knots and cracking. It is all part of the real deal.

This mantel beam is filled with beautiful, rugged character and color. The front face and bottom have original ax marks dating back to the late 1800s. It sports a wonderful saddle brown color accented by some deeper chocolate hues. There’s a mildly lighter patch in the front, but not distractingly so. This beam has real ax marks from back in the days of the early settlers to these lands. It also sports some old bug holes. No need to worry about those. They’ve been kiln-dried out of there.

The original beam came from an old barn in Southwest Wisconsin. It probably dates back to the late 1800s. We purchased this wood from an Amish gentleman who lives out in the rolling hills of the area. That area is still dotted with small farms where the cows and other livestock wander out in the corrals. It’s not like the modern farms that we see by our place in Minnesota with hundreds of cows stuffed in tin buildings. It is great to see agriculture the way that I remember it as a kid.

Note, this mantel is not perfectly square. While I don’t think it is an unreasonable degree, just be aware of it. Imagine that back in the day when men were swinging axes to make a round tree square. I am always amazed that these hand-hewn beams are as square as they are.

For a mantel similar to this one, the pricing is as follows –
8x8x66 Hand Hewn Reclaimed Oak Mantel  = $800
Hand Hammered, Custom Fit Overlap Metal Strap = $425
Shipping via UPS Ground = $150
TOTAL = $1375

Please contact us to select a specific beam and discuss the details of the metalwork (proportions, location, etc…)

About the tag – I believe this tag came from a 1960s newspaper. Some company was pitching the idea of raising chinchillas for profit. But the hitch — the initial breeding pair costs $1800. That’s a lot of money today, never mind in the 1960s.