On occasion, I come across a find that is so good that I have to pinch myself.  This mantel is one such example.  Perhaps it’s because we are in the midst of summer.  Perhaps it’s because this antique mantel is ridiculously heavy. Perhaps I was just having a particularly lucky day.  For whatever reason, I came upon this beautiful antique mantel.  I was so in love with it that I hauled it up 17 plus stairs, by myself, the following day, so I could photograph it. Let me tell you – this antique mantel is HEAVY.

 

 

I couldn’t wait to to show it to you.  This mantel received no modification or repairs.  The photos here show her as I found her. I love the layers of paints that show through.  I also love  how the paint has worn away in places.

As an aside, those pillows are from Penny & Ivy and were handmade by Emily Cleverly.  She makes them out of antique German grain sacks.  They are a labor of love, and the quality of her work is without compare.

 

 

I plan on taking her to Stone Soup Antiques Gallery in the next week or so.  Until then, I plan to continue to dress her up and take photos.

 

 

 

Then there is this photo:

 

 

Do you see those giant brass hooks on the mantel? Technically, those are upside down in the photo.  If I were to turn them the other way (bottom side up)  and mount them on the wall – you would see that these are antique “hooks” used to tie up horses that were pulling coaches.  They are gorgeous!

 

 

I leave you with the photo above because the 4th of July is just around the corner.  We are already at the peak of summer!