One of my favorites! This stunning rustic fireplace mantel captures attention with its well-balanced curved sapwood edge — a rare feature among beams. The lighter sapwood creates an intriguing contrast against the darker heartwood. An original pocket on the front face adds to the mantel’s rustic character. We can fill the pocket or leave as-is or perhaps add a little drawer. The beam just has this great rustic charm from its 1800s vintage, showcased by distinct ax marks. Heavy wood grains flow around prominent knots adding to its authentic appeal. While it appears to be red oak, the age of the beam can make precise identification challenging. A few old notches on the top will be filled to complete this rustic fireplace mantel’s transformation. This piece could fit well into a range of environments.

• This rustic fireplace mantel has been sanded, but no finish coat has been applied.
  Pictures toward the end show what a hard wax oil finish will tend toward, but we can keep it lighter as well — whichever you like.
• It is currently 6in tall x 6in deep x 71.5in long. We priced at 60in long. We can cut to size at no additional charge.
• It can be shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states via UPS for $150

This beam traces back to an old barn near Lowell, Wisconsin, a small town located approximately 50 miles northwest of Madison. White settlers began establishing themselves in the area around 1850. By 1880, the town had reached a population of 400, similar to its current population of around 325. The original barn was likely constructed in the mid to late 1800s, as evidenced by its hand-hewn structure. This timeframe aligns with the town’s early development and the typical construction methods of that era.

About the tag – This is one of my favorite tags as well. It is a copy of a Vick’s Early Scarlet Raddish seed packet dating back to 1887. It is a great piece of early Americana. Here’s a nice article about seeds and seed advertising. It was one of the areas where color printing played an early and important role.