–Sold to Jackie from Virginia on 10/7/2017 —
We may have some other similar beams available. Please contact us at antiqueww@gmail.com for a list of more finished mantels as well as available raw stock. Thank you!

We purchased a small batch of some of the best beams that I’ve ever seen. They have a perfect color with gentle hand hewing and a great history. The warm brown tones just radiate from this mantel. This is all natural color that develops over time.

This particular beam started out as a 9×9. We cut it in 1/2 to make two mantel shelves. The top side shows the lighter interior that is more typical of white oak. The front and bottom show the beautiful patina color that develops over time in a barn environment. On the top side, you can see the nearly quarter-of-an-inch of color that has penetrated into the wood. While the top is currently lighter, we could cheat and modify this one so that the top is darker and more closely matches the bottom. We’d probably re-sand the top and apply ammonia to naturally darken.

The back side has an original mortise pocket that we left as-is. There are empty peg holes on the top and bottom that are a testament to the fact that this was an original use as a barn.

The hand hewing on this beam is very subtle — which shows great craftsmanship. Often times, you’ll see beams that are “choppy” looking. To get beams smoother, they work 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 do a second or third pass with an adz.

We applied a finish of Rubio Monocoat to give the mantel durability and just the right natural sheen. But, it still has this great, natural touchable quality.

We gathered a collection of beams from a historical Flour Mill later turned barn in Paynesville, Minnesota. The Paynesville Historical Society writes, “Wheat was the number one crop. This crop brought in the money. The Applegren Mill at Old Town (Paynesville) was world famous. John Peter Applegren purchased the mill in 1869. It had been a grist mill but was converted of the grinding of flour by Applegren. He produced Paynesville Rolled Flour which was a favorite with housewives. John’s Flour Mill, as it was affectionately called in Paynesville, also produced a very special flour called Golden Drop Flour. In 1893, he took 50 pounds of it in a pure silk bag to the Chicago World’s Fair. He won a gold medal and a scroll”

This mantel beam is priced at $100 per LF at 76 inches. We can cut to any size, but the price on this one is fixed. This is such a great piece, it is well worth the price. This one can ship via FedEx Gnd for $65.

The tag is a cartoon from a 1929 newspaper that we found being used as insulation in an old house near Minneapolis, Minnesota. They not only used newspaper for insulation, but there was actually a company that manufactured a product where about a 1/4in of newspaper was sewn together with a Kraft paper backer.