This piece is a (fireplace) mantle. The desire was for a simple design with minimal accents to not detract from the natural beauty of the wood. The grain of the wood is amazing in its flow, sweeping in graceful arcs from end to end.

It is from a single slab of native Pennsylvania poplar. It bears relief carvings of evergreen trees on the sconce sides and the same trees as well as facing bear outlines on the top. I used the same relief-carve-burn-sand technique employed in much of my work. It leaves the burnt image clean on the surface of the wood and the burning requires no stains or paints to bring out the images I or my customer choose to use.

Dimensions : 60" long x 12" deep x 16" high; all pieces are 2 & 1/2 " thick; 45 & 1/4" between supports.

The finish is simple linseed oil and beeswax which leaves the slight green cast of natural poplar wood showing thru.

It is intended to be a mantle over a fireplace but could easily be adapted to be a rustic shelf in a gameroom, den, or even a kitchen.

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