Rock Elm – what an incredible, somewhat rare domestic hardwood! This natural solid wood mantel has such a wonderful look and feel, seamlessly fitting into the modern aesthetic while being beautifully accented by real, natural touches.

You see, Rock Elm is almost unavailable on the modern market these days, but every now and then we’re lucky enough to find it tucked away in an old barn. These trees grow ever so slowly, resulting in extremely tight growth rings and gorgeously intricate grain patterns. Just look at those pictures of the end-grains – can you count those rings? I’d wager it’s close to 100 years from center to corner. Rock Elm is also hard and heavy, much like maple. Finishing it can be quite the tricky business too. Typical approaches tend to turn it an unsightly yellow or obscure that exquisite grain. But when done right? Oh, Rock Elm is wonderfully unique with such a delightfully contemporary flair.

This particular solid wood mantel has quite the story behind it. It was sourced from a late 1800s vintage barn located near Henderson, Minnesota. The original timber was hand-hewn by skilled craftsmen of years gone by. We always hate to cut off those charming old hand-ax works, but in this case, revealing the full beauty of the wood grains was simply the right choice.

Pieces like this one are little time capsules, reminding us of the craftsmanship of the past while still feeling so perfectly at home in today’s modern spaces.

This particular piece has some tear-out on 8 inches of the back side. Even though it is 68in long, it is priced at 60in. We can cut to size or leave as-is. You can also see that we filled a couple of pockets on the top and bottom side of the mantel. The front face is pocket free.

It can be shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states via FedEx Gnd for $150

About the tag – Nice illustration of Jack and the Beanstock from a 1950s vintage children’s book.