Antique Limestone Mantels by Ancient Surfaces: A Symphony of Time and Craftsmanship

Nestled within the realm of architectural artistry, the antique limestone mantels curated by Ancient Surfaces stand as masterpieces, echoing tales of eras long past. These mantles, with their intricate carvings and age-old patina, are not just centerpieces; they are storytellers, weaving narratives of history, culture, and unparalleled craftsmanship.

Bedroom fireplace mantles
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Luxurious bedroom mantles
Antique stone mantel

Each mantle, handpicked and restored by Ancient Surfaces, carries with it the legacy of the hands that crafted it. The chisel marks, the subtle variations in hue, and the gentle wear from centuries of touch reveal stories of homes warmed by roaring fires, of families gathering in its glow, and of moments both grand and intimate.

Fireplace mantles
Ancient Surfaces
Mantle designs
Stone mantles
Modern fireplace mantles
Traditional fireplace mantles
Mantle decor ideas
Floating mantles
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Antique limestone mantel

Ancient Surfaces’ commitment to preserving these historical treasures is evident in the meticulous care with which each piece is restored. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these limestone mantles serve as bridges, linking contemporary spaces to the rich tapestry of the past. They stand as reminders of a time when every stroke of the artisan’s hand was a testament to dedication, skill, and passion.

Fireplace mantles
Mantle designs
Antique limestone mantel
Stone mantles
Modern fireplace mantles
Traditional fireplace mantles
Mantle decor ideas
Floating mantles
Rustic mantles
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Custom carved limestone mantle

In today’s world of fleeting trends and disposable decor, the antique limestone mantels from Ancient Surfaces stand defiantly timeless. Their presence in a space doesn’t just elevate its design; it infuses it with soul, character, and a depth that only history can provide.

Fireplace mantles
Ancient Surfaces
Mantle designs
Antique limestone mantel
Stone mantles
Modern fireplace mantles
Traditional fireplace mantles
Mantle decor ideas
Floating mantles
Rustic mantles

So, as you gaze upon these mantles, whether in a stately home, a design gallery, or in the catalog of Ancient Surfaces, take a moment to appreciate their journey. Envision the fires they’ve framed, the conversations they’ve overheard, and the generations they’ve silently observed. Each mantle is more than stone; it’s a canvas of human history.

Fireplace mantles
Mantle designs
Ancient Surfaces
Stone mantles
Modern fireplace mantles
Traditional fireplace mantles
Mantle decor ideas
Floating mantles
Rustic mantles
Antique limestone mantel

Come visit our interactive digital online catalog

Call us at: 212-461-0245 // 212-913-9588

Sales@AncientSurfaces.com

Golden Ratio Fireplaces, A beautiful journey into warmth & light

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This is a discovery that we as restorers and carvers of Ancient Surfaces have noticed for years now.

The intense usage of the golden ratio in fireplaces carved centuries ago was more prevalent and widespread that previously ever expected.

The odd thing is that only a handful of historic references mention how common place this practice was.

I think that carvers in the renaissance era and onward just developed a second nature to involuntarily produce such harmonic ratios since many stone fireplaces were reclaimed from farmhouses belonging to the less sophisticated mercantile class.

Those merchants never had a connoisseur eye for architectural does and don’t and can be compared to what we call today the newly found money or ‘Nouveaux Rich’.

In most parts they had to employ local talent that were in many cases self tough craftsmen and journeymen not belonging to carving guilds where advanced knowledge and expertise was developed and honed.

Don’t get me wrong, the golden ratio was not a Renaissance invention. It was first noted by name around 300BC by Euclid in his mathematical treatise The Elements.

This ratio can be found across geometry, nature, all sciences, all smart and elegant constructions and has been incorporated by ingenious builders and Polymaths across human history to create and innovate novel and brilliant creations.

This universal Harmony, Truth and Beauty has found its way luckily into our antique reclaimed fireplaces.

We’ve noticed something very peculiar and strange however. Our clients seems to be drawn to stone fireplaces exhibiting such ratios like moths drawn to a light bulb.

The human eye brain and soul seems to have a basic intuition on what is appealing and what is not even at first glance, no training necessary!

Take a look and let me know what you think?

Come visit our interactive digital online catalog

Call us at: 212-461-0245 // 212-913-9588

Sales@AncientSurfaces.com

Breathing room in your Living Room- Antique Stone Fireplace, the Ultimate design breath of fresh air

Let’s imagine a living room without a fireplace, well we can’t! Simply because you can’t have much living going on in any room without a real fireplace! Architects and interior designers have made fireplaces a focal cornerstone in any new home or renovation project that seeks to have an individual persona attributed to it. They have realized more that ever the need to incorporating all inspiring fireplaces into almost every room of the home. No one design element can tell the story of a room more than a well planned fireplace especially if that fireplace was hand carved in real limestone hundreds of years ago!

I like in this blog to go all out and showcase some of my favorite antique stone Fireplaces that have both inspired and awed me.
Those impressive antique and reclaimed limestone fireplaces are found everywhere in the home and are shown bellow in no particular order.

Living rooms are the natural habitats of grand and impressive fireplace. By impressive I don’t necessarily mean fully carved carved out looking like it came from the workshop of a 15th century Italian Renaissance carver. I personally love this use reclaimed 16th century fireplace as the focal point for this laid back French farmhouse inspired living room like the ones you seen on travel blogs or the pages of top interior design magazines…

For centuries an open roaring hearth was the heart of every kitchen. Modern appliances gradually replaced cooking fires and kitchen fireplaces fell out of favor- but the look is back!

Prior to the 19th century, fireplace mantles were frequently positioned at the height of a man’s shoulder. A large hearth allowed for a very large fire, vital as the sole source of a home’s heat. This designer took that large hearth and divided it into 2 parts, setting the hearth at eye level with kitchen diners.

We love to find pieces that tell the tale of their role in the daily lives of people past. This fireplace set into a French country dining room bears the marks of centuries of fires burning within its hearth. By leaving the fire marks intact, the designer created a more relaxed dining room

Imagine relaxing in the tub with a fire crackling just a few feet away. Powder room fireplaces add a luxurious element to bathrooms. Prior to modern plumbing, water was boiled over the kitchen fire and carried to a portable bathtub, often positioned near the fireplace within a noble’s private chambers. This delicate fireplace is the ultimate in luxury.

Small spaces, such as powder rooms, call for Fireplaces of diminutive scale. This 18th c. Cheminée from a Village House outside of Lyon, France has a width of just 45”, less than half the size of many we see. It’s graceful lines would translate beautifully to a French country spa retreat in your home.

Inspired to add a fireplace to an unexpected room in your home? Contact us to learn how you can acquire a centuries old limestone firepaces from our collection, or click here to browse even more amazing pieces.

Come visit our interactive digital online catalog

Call us at: 212-461-0245 // 212-913-9588

Sales@AncientSurfaces.com

Modern Architectural with Old-World Limestone Warmth

There’s nothing quite like a fireplace to curl up next to on a cool night.

Fireplaces not only add heat in a literal sense, but they also lend warmth and charm to a space.

This is even true of outdoor spaces. Adding an outdoor stone fireplace in your backyard or garden is a luxury you will not regret.

An antique stone fireplace is elegant, elemental, and everlasting capable of withstanding the perpetual ware and tare of all what nature can throw at it.

There are many antique stone fireplace designs to choose from when selecting the style that best fits your home style.

From Italian farmhouse to French provincial or even Greek costal Mediterranean an antique stone fireplace will anchor-in the theme of your house with your outdoors living space guaranteeing you a perfect design that will never need to be remodeled as long as the structure stands.

An outdoor stone fireplace can be used all year long. There is nothing like sitting around the fire during a cool night, whether it be winter, spring, summer or fall, and enjoying the warmth and the dancing flames evokes our basic feelings of shelter and protection.

Your outdoor fireplace will soon become a gathering spot for family and friends, and rather than running indoors as soon as the mercury dips, you will find yourself drawn to sit by your antique stone fireplace ‘Al Fresco’.

Holiday time is an especially wonderful time to enjoy an outdoor antique stone mantel. Even though the weather outside may be unforgiving, the glowing warmth of an outdoor stone fireplace is the solution.

Grab a mug of hot cocoa or warm apple cider, don a hat and some warm mittens, and enjoy the same feeling our ancestors enjoyed before us while in the company of a wonderful stone fireplace during the holiday season.

Decorated with the holidays evergreens and outdoor lights, garland and wreaths, they can greatly add to the holiday cheer. You will quickly find that the memories you make while gathered outdoors around the stone fireplace hearth are ones that you will never forget.

If you already have an outdoor fireplace, then you are all set to enjoy some time spent outdoors to unwind.

If, on the other hand, you only have plans to build an outdoor stone fireplace but have not yet started, you can rest assured that whenever your antique stone fireplace is finished, it will bring enjoyment and warmth to you and your family all year long and for many years to come.

Still undecided on how you want to build your custom stone fireplace and haven’t narrowed down your choices yet, have no fear!

You can find a wealth of antique stone fireplace ideas as well as original stone fireplace pictures and photos in our online database so you can start formulating a clear idea of what you like and how one of our antique stone mantels will fit into your outdoor garden design.