Victorian Hand Carved

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

Vtg Antique Victorian Chain pendant CAMEO pink LARGE    US $28.81

Antique Victorian Edwardian Hand Embroidered Purse    US $5.00

c1880 Victorian Mahogany Six Drawer Chest of Drawers    US $1,515.24

GORGEOUS ANTIQUE CUT DIAMOND EMERALD BRACELET    US $1,461.73

Antique Deco 6ct White Topzaz Gold Engagement Ring    US $73.99

Antique Deco 7ct Coral 14k Gold Engagement Ring    US $87.01

Antique Deco 3ct White Sapphire Gold Engagement Ring    US $61.02

Antique Deco 9ct Amethyst 14k Rose Gold Engagement Ring    US $136.50

Wooden Decorative Screen Victorian Angels Room Divider    US $147.95

GORGEOUS 18K NATURAL DIAMOND RUBY RING ENGAGEMENT BAND    US $80.90

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN SILVER CAMEO BLUE STONE BRACELET    US $49.97

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 10K GOLD CORAL CAMEO PENDANT BROOCH    US $227.00

ART DECO NECKLACE BRASS CARVED BAKELITE FLOWERS TESTED    US $45.00

Victorian Lady Cameo Large Vintage Brass Oval Pendant    US $4.99

HUGE LOT 1800s Furniture BRASS ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE    US $21.50

Antique F VS Diamond White Gold Deco Engagement Ring    US $37.00

Vintage ARMY AIR CORP Emblem blue gold intaglio pendant    US $5.99

Vintage glass intaglio W German Cute FROG pendant    US $5.99

BUTTERFLY reverse painted vintage W German intaglio    US $7.99

Reverse painted horse jockey earringsVintage cabachon    US $7.99

Vintage Zodiac SCORPIO etched intaglio pendant    US $5.99

HORSE JOCKEY Vintage Intaglio Tie Bar Money Clip    US $6.99

Antique Victorian Mens 1 2ct Sapphire 14K Gold Ring    US $208.50

Antique 38ct Diamond White Gold Deco Engagement Ring    US $201.50

Victorian Mahogany Book Trough Magazine Rack Side Table    US $174.99

Antique 80ct Diamond Platinum Art Deco Engagement Ring    US $380.00

ORCHID flower vintage West German intaglio LOCKET    US $6.99

Antique 1ct Diamond Sapphire Platinum Engagement Ring    US $505.00

ANTIQUE CARVED MAHOGANY MIRROR DOOR WARDROBE ARMOIRE    US $429.95

Antique Victorian Opal Gold Lavaliere Pendant Necklace    US $32.00

Custom Wooden Mantel Design

Designing mantels and building them is one of the more fun projects for many craftsmen I think. A mantel project can add quite a nice touch to a home considering the time and cost to make one. What I like about a mantel project is the endless design possibilities.

One of the first considerations before designing your mantel is the clearances from the firebox horizontally and vertically. These measurements can be gotten from your local permit office. They will also have specifications on the depth of the mantel shelf. The depth of the shelf will vary according to the height above the firebox. The higher the mantel shelf above the firebox, the greater the overhang allowed. Of course the firebox is the opening to the fireplace. The width and depth of the hearth will be specified as well. If you are purchasing a metal fireplace the manufacturer will have clearance data enclosed in the installation instructions. After you know the clearances permitted, you can begin to design your mantel masterpiece.

I have become a fan of Google's Sketchup software program for designing in 3d. There is a free version which is quite powerful with a short learning curve. A 3 dimensional Sketchup drawing will enable you to get a feel for what the finished project will look like and will enable you to avoid some of the pitfalls of working without a plan. I highly recommend it.

As I said above, the possibilities are indeed endless. The first thing to consider is whether you want a mantel shelf or mantel surround. A mantel surround is a mantel shelf with legs that touch the hearth and so "surround" the firebox. A mantel shelf will rest above the firebox. Among the basic possibilities of a mantel surround are,

• Pilaster mantel surround - the legs are rectangular shaped and often simulate rectangular columns

• A round column mantel surround - round columns are used instead of pilasters between the mantel shelf and hearth. Some people opt for double columns on each side of the hearth.

• Split column mantel surround - the round columns are split and fastened to the flat base between the mantel shelf and hearth

These are some of the basic shapes, but a book could be written on different mantel styles. There are Victorian mantels and Federal mantels and Georgian mantels and a host of styles relating to historical periods and geographical areas that go well beyond the scope of this short article.

A mantel shelf will be simpler to design and build because the legs of the mantel surround are eliminated. A mantel shelf can be as simple as a board with a crown molding below.

Part of the design process is deciding on the embellishments to use to adorn your mantel. Some of the considerations are corbels (sometimes called brackets) typically used to support the mantel shelf. Rosettes, scrolls, drops and centers are applied wooden pieces to attach to center panels and pilasters panels. These nifty wooden "onlays", as they are sometimes called, provide decoration in the flat spaces of the mantel.

Two other considerations for you masterpiece mantel are,

• Finishes - stain paint or glaze are the most often applied finishes.

• How to attach the mantel - this should really be considered at the beginning so that the attachment mechanism can be built into the backs and sides during construction. A popular attachment method is the "French Cleat".

A well designed and executed mantel surround can create a wonderful touch to your home much like a staircase, entryway, or cabinetry. Fortunately there are many beautiful examples that can help to wet the creative juices. After you settle on the basic shape, draw it out and plan carefully. The more specific the plan you have, the greater the likelihood of a successful implementation.

About the Author

Kim Vedros is a professional woodworker and owner of
Architectural Wood Designs
, an ecommerce store specializing in hand carved wooden components for home.