. . . a Craftsman Style fireplace mantel exudes qual- ity and uncompromising attention to detail!
The
American Craftsman Style
is a descendant of the
British Arts and Crafts Movement.
In the U.S., the term refers to the style of architec- ture, interior design, and decorative arts popular between
the dominant eras of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, or roughly the period from 1910 to 1925.
Though many outstanding examples of the style survive, the legendary
Gamble House
in Pasadena, Califor- nia, is considered a masterpiece of American Arts and Crafts, or Crafts- man, design. An exemplary work
of the
Greene brothers,
it features a number of striking fireplace designs, including the stunning brick fireplace pictured at right.
Most Craftsman fireplace designs, however, were simpler and more typical of the example pictured below. Made
of beautifully grained quartersawn oak framing a tiled surround, the handcrafted quality and workmanship is
readily apparent in the finish and detailing, including the carefully fitted wooden pegs on either end of the
mantel shelf facing.
It is that quality of workmanship and attention to detail that has brought about today's revival of the Crafts- man Style . . . . . . . not only in fire- place design, but in other architec- tural elements -- both interior and exterior -- as well.
A renewed appreciation for excep- tional detailing using natural materi- als, such as that depicted at right and below, has made the style im- mensely popular, once again.
Gustav Stickley
(1858-1942), publisher of The Craftsman Magazine and the leading proponent of Craftsman design in America, believed that built-in book- cases and benches were a practical, if not essential, design element in Crafts -man Style homes and ensured that the house would not be completely re- liant on furniture from outside. The period drawing at right shows how the fireplace was often used to "anchor" the built-in components, as do the Craftsman fireplace designs pictured be- low.
The two rather simple, but sturdy fireplaces shown below are typical Craftsman designs. Once again, quarter
sawn oak is used, along with detailing such as corbels (brackets) and wooden pegs to reflect the hand- crafted
quality inherent in the style.
Splayed legs are another common feature of the Craftsman Style and add a bit of elegance and
refinement to the designs, as shown in the following examples. The reproduction tile surround on the fireplace
at bottom lends an additional authentic touch to the overall design.
Another authentic element of Crafts- man fireplace design is the flared cop- per hood, such as that depicted in the period drawings below.
The reproduction design pictured at right is a beautiful example of the quality workmanship and attention to detail -- in both the metalwork and surrounding woodwork -- that characterizes Craftsman styling and design.
And finally, as shown in the two striking examples which follow, the overall composition can be extended
upward to include an overmantel to further enhance the design. Note the handcrafted quality and the
exceptional attention to detail, particularly in the example shown at right, below.
If you would like more information about any of the designs featured here, please
let us know
and we will be happy to provide that for you!
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as we continually add new images of Craftsman fireplaces to our web site.
