A mantel is a structure that frames the aperture of a fireplace and commonly covers a portion of the chimney breast in a beautiful fashion. The mantel was first introduced when the fireplace became the principal source of home heating in the 12th century, The works of famous mantel designers ranged from modest to ornate ornamentation. Today’s mantels function more as sculptural artwork than as a heating device.
What exactly is a Mantel?
The mantel (chimneypiece, overmantel) frames a fireplace opening and serves as a cowl to catch smoke from the fire. Today, the term mantel refers to the decorative frames of a fireplace. A decorative mantel’s designs might extend all the way to the ceiling.
How did the Mantel evolve?
Mantels first appeared after the 12th century, when fireplaces began to replace hearths, braziers, and hypocausts. A fireplace mantel had detailed and beautiful decorations to serve as a big accent in a space. The subsequent mantel designs contained archivolts (voussure), which are ornate moldings in the shape of an arch.
The mantel became more of an aesthetic feature as the size of the fireplace got larger in the 14th century. Poiters’ Palais des Comtes is the largest recorded mantel. This mantel is 30 feet broad and has 2 intermediary supports for the hood.
The intricate ornamentation on 18th-century mantels, which were frequently made of carved wood, was significantly influenced by French forms.
Who are the 3 Famous Mantel Designers?
The 3 famous mantel designers and their contributions are listed below.
1. G.B. Piranesi is the most well-known creator of mantels. Piranesi is an Italian architect and artist whose set of mantel designs strongly impacted France’s Empire Style in 1765. The etchings of Piranesi’s diverse mantelpiece and furniture designs spread throughout Europe, influencing decorative trends and even serving as a sales guide for the things he fashioned from ancient ruins.
2. Inigo Jones introduced the Italian style to England. A prominent English and Welsh architect in the early modern period, Jones features simple mantels with architraves and a shelf in his designs.
3. Adam brothers’ mantel design in the 18th century featured ornate wood flourishes and mold casts.
How are Mantels Used Today?
As contemporary heating technologies have supplanted the fireplace, mantels are now used primarily as contemporary architecture in the interior of a space.
A mantel allows the architect or designer to display their artistic abilities. A mantel draws a room’s motif together, whether it’s Italian, Classical, Victorian, Gothic, or French. A gorgeous mantelpiece is enhanced by unique carvings and sculptures in the shape of figurines, brackets, moldings, and capitals.
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