Hand Hewn Fireplace Mantel – White Oak (LONGEST-WAY)

Additional information

Weight 78 lbs
Dimensions 67.5 × 6.5 × 6.0 in
Wood:

Texture:

Color:

Size Category:     

Price:

$700.00

Out of stock

Product Description

AVAILABLE! Nice little mantel with 1800s hewing on all sides.

With hand hewing on all threes sides, this mantel shows exactly what 1800s vintage hand hewing is all about. This piece hosts a warm auburn brown hue complete with a few cracks and knots on the face. It is “mortise pocket free” on all sides. The top side, while hewn, is plenty flat for all of your decorations. The bottom side shows a mild sapwood/bark line on the back edge. This area just lends itself to the natural authenticity of this piece. An overly perfect modern replica, it is not.

This is the real thing from back in the 1800s when folks swung axes to make round logs into square beams.  It is amazing to think that this was shaped by an ax by early American settlers. The top has been cut smooth to remove some issues. It makes for a nice flat shelf for your decorations, family photos, and knick-knacks.

There tend to be two types of hand hewing — rough and smooth. Oftentimes, you’ll see beams that are “choppy” looking. To get beams smoother, they worked the beam several times with different tools. For example, they may do the first pass with a broad ax or even a felling ax. Then, they would do a second or third pass with an adz. This mantel has what I would consider a more medium, hand-hewn texture.

The original beam came from an old barn in Lake Mills, Wisconsin which is about 30 miles East of Madison, Wisconsin. The barn probably dated back to the mid- to late-1800s. The country was generally settled from East to West, so we see older places in Eastern Wisconsin than we do near our workshop near Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We can cut this mantel shorter and refinish the ends for an additional for no additional cost.

It can be shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states via FedEx Gnd for $125

About the tag – Longest Way – “One fine summer day Tom was walking along the big road with his dog…” So begins a passage from an elementary school reader from about the 1950s — back when we read “Dick and Jane” books.

More Mantel Inventory

You can shop some available mantel beams and thinner mantel shelves on this website. 

However, our website here only contains a small number of all of the mantels that we have in stock.
We are literally a mom-and-pop shop that does lots of custom work. We often just don’t quite find enough time to update this website regularly.
We have nearly 150 finished mantels and another 500 or so unfinished pieces in stock at any time that can be viewed with other links. 

We also do lots of custom work. If we understand what you are seeking, we can find and create that magic piece.

Please contact us for a full list and personal recommendations. We’re happy to chat and find a great piece for you.

We work with a great local blacksmith to add metal straps and other ornamentation to our mantels. He is the real deal — coal forged and hand hammered. The metalwork has great color and tight fit. Nothing machined. We can start with a finished mantel you find on our site, or we can start with raw stock for more options.

Here are a few examples of the hundreds that we have crafted over the years. We can work together to create something unique. You can also browse our Mantels with Metalwork page.

Mantel with metal rings  Fireplace Mantel with Metal Cross 

In most cases, no special and expensive brackets are required — just some lag screws. The different approaches outlined are very strong, simple, and economical. Take a look at our mantel installation tips.

Contact us via email at antiqueww@gmail.com or call 612-281-9330.