With its reclaimed character and smooth top surface, our mantel shelf is the best of both worlds. From a massive hand-hewn beam, we crafted this nearly 4×9 piece, cutting through a mortise pocket where two beams once joined. We filled the mortise pocket with another wood block, showcasing its wonderful white oak wood end-grain.

This reclaimed wood mantel shelf is finished, but the top is lighter than the rest of the shelf. We used Rubio Monocoat, a high-end hard wax oil that comes in a variety of colors. We can apply additional coats of finish to warm up the top surface and blend it more seamlessly with the face and bottom.

Normally, this beam would run $850. It is currently on sale for $600. We are happy to cut to any size and re-finish at no additional cost.

We purchased the source beam from an Amish gentleman who dismantled it from an old weather barn in Southwest Wisconsin, dating back to the late 1800s. The area is filled with rolling hills, where they bear witness to a simpler time, when cows grazed freely, and agriculture was a labor of love — in strong contrast to the modern farms of Minnesota, where hundreds of cows are crammed into metal sheds. This part of the country evokes the memories of my childhood when I saw agriculture as a harmonious balance between nature and humans. These barns are a relic of a bygone era. Not too much longer and the good ones will be gone.

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

About the tag – Great illustration. Bisto! This tag was from a 1950’s edition of Women’s Journal from England. It was published from the 1920s to the 1980s. Bisto is a gravy powder that is popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The product was first sold in 1908 and is still sold today.