The Birth of the Fireplace Mantel

Here at The Mantel Shoppe, we respect the tradition of our craft and rely on it to continue designing the best fireplace mantels in the world. Most elements of our time-tested designs are drawn from the deep history that fireplace mantels carry. We spend a great deal of time studying these how mantels should look, which sometimes leads us to take a step back and wonder where our fascination of the fireplace mantel began in the first place.

Of course, the reasons for our appreciation of fire itself are obvious. It keeps us warm on the coldest nights, allowing people to live in places that would otherwise be completely unhospitable for human habitation. It also cooks our food, allowing us to eat things like meat more easily and enjoyably. So, it’s logical that we would worship fire and have a natural desire to make the area around it more attractive.

However, it wasn’t until the 12th century that indoor fires moved from the center of the home to the outer walls. The fireplace played a similar role to today’s televisions, providing a place for families to gather around and offering the primary source of light during the night. People began decorating the area surrounding the fireplace, which made sense given that they spent much of their time facing it. Thus, the ornamental mantelpiece was born, spending following centuries as a lavish symbol of status and wealth.

These days, while you no longer have to be rich to have a fireplace mantel in your home, we continue to decorate them with the same level of respect as wealthy families of old. At The Mantel Shoppe, we’ve paid homage to fireplace mantels throughout our own unique history.

Of course, there is so much more involved with the history of this cherished household staple. Stay tuned to The Mantel Shoppe blog for more information, or head on over to our website to browse our stunning mantel collections.