This wonderful little rustic mantel shelf is a very versatile piece. It has a cut top and bottom with a mildly hand-hewn face. The top and bottom have been treated with ammonia to naturally darken the wood over the course of 24 hours. It is the same process that happens in a barn, but that can take decades. This darkening effect is most apparent in white oak. The color could be preserved as-is with some additional pre-treatment and a wax finish. This will provide a piece that has a great natural color but is also easy to maintain and keep clean. Alternatively, we can apply a Rubio Monocoat finish which will naturally darken the mantel shelf and produce deep chocolatey brown hues. The cut top and bottom give this piece a little cleaner feel.

We reclaimed this particular mantel shelf from a granary near Hamburg, Minnesota. We cut this section from a large hand-hewn sill timber. These timbers often partially rot. By cutting off the rot, we were able to preserve this little gem of a piece. You can see a few images of the exact, original granary in the picture set. A wave of German immigration came in the 1880s when nearly 1.5 million individuals left for the US.  Alongside Hamburg, several other towns in the area – New Germany, Cologne, and New Ulm — all pay tribute to their German ancestry.

We’re happy cut this rustic mantel shorter and refinish the ends for an additional for no additional cost if needed.

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

About the tag – Uncle Henry was taken from a children’s book from the 1940s or 1950s. I suppose it is because the Dick and Jane readers were still in school when I was I was a kid, but I have a real fondness for this old illustration style.