Check out this unique rough hewn mantel – it’s a bit different from what we usually have. We typically aim to keep things unstained, but in this case, we went for a pretty dark stain, and it turned out fantastic for this piece. It’s got that rugged, rough hewn look both on the face and the bottom. The top’s been leveled off, making it a perfect spot for all your decorations. What’s interesting is its somewhat unusual 10-inch depth, which gives you plenty of space for your decor.

And if you take a look at the bottom, it’s got some real character with two filled mortise pockets. Those cutouts used to be where beams came together in a barn way back when. Originally, this beam was a hefty, vertical 10×10, but we sliced it in half to create this neat 5×10 size.

The dimensions make it a shelf, measuring 4.75 inches tall, 10 inches deep, and a lengthy 62.5 inches. But hey, if you need it to be a different size, we’ll customize it for you at no extra cost. This rough hewn mantel shelf is made from red oak, which gives it some beautiful grain patterns.

The original beam came from an old barn in Southwest Wisconsin dating back to the late 1800s. We purchased this wood from an Amish gentleman who lives out in the rolling hills of that area. That landscape around there is still dotted with small farms where the cows and other livestock wander out in the pasture. It’s not like the modern farms by our place in Minnesota where we see hundreds of cows stuffed in a tin building. It is great to see agriculture the way that I remember it as a kid.

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

About the tag – Brighter Wives insist on VIM. The stereotypes cast in this 1950s and from Women’s Journal certainly would not fly in today’s world. These old ads really show how things have changed — they are a great little peak into history. Vim was a scouring powder at was a sponsor of The Lucy Show.