This wonderful antique mantel piece is an absolute showstopper! At nearly 9 x 10 x 73 inches, it commands attention and brings substantial presence to any room. This is genuinely one of my all-time favorite pieces—the kind that makes you stop and appreciate true craftsmanship.

Originally serving as a sill timber in a 150-year-old granary, this beam anchored an entire building for generations. Three square 2×2 pockets where joists once fit have been thoughtfully filled with beautiful end-grain plugs, honoring the original joinery while creating a complete, finished surface. These details tell the story of the building’s structure and add a distinctive character you won’t find anywhere else.

The medium to dark warm color radiates richness and depth, creating an inviting focal point that feels both stately and welcoming. Look closely at the gentle hand hewing—you can see where skilled craftsmen made multiple careful passes about 150 years ago, creating subtle texture that catches light beautifully throughout the day.

A delicate ribbon of light-colored sapwood runs along the corners, naturally framing the piece and adding gorgeous visual contrast. A few original nails peek through the surface—charming reminders of this timber’s working past and authentic proof of its heritage.

This isn’t just a mantel; it’s a treasure that transforms your fireplace into a stunning statement of history and elegance!

• This antique mantel piece is shown completely finished
• It is currently 8.75 inches tall x 9.75 inches deep
• The full size is 73 inches long, but we can be cut down for not additional charge.
• It tips the scales at 185lbs in the current size — too big for UPS or FedEx. At full size, we will need to ship via LTL Truck Freight.
• Please email or call so that we can calculate shipping (or perhaps cut down in size).
  In this case, the quoted price here on the website is probably wrong.

We reclaimed this mantel shelf from a historic granary near Hamburg, Minnesota, cutting it from a large hand-hewn sill timber. These timbers often suffer partial rot, but by carefully removing the damaged sections, we preserved this beautiful gem. The photo set includes images of the original granary structure. This piece connects directly to the 1880s German immigration wave that brought nearly 1.5 million people to America. Hamburg joins nearby New Germany, Cologne, and New Ulm—towns that all honor their rich German heritage.

About the tag – “Greenish Frogs” comes from the 1962 children’s book Colors are Nice by Adelaide Holl, published as a Little Golden Book. I have fond memories of a five-foot shelf packed with Little Golden Books during my childhood. I think those books are still packed away in the basement somewhere.