Hi all. I've acquired this original finish oak arts and crafts fireplace surround and wonder if any of you can help me with identification. The incised crosses have me baffled. I am not sure where it originated, but it was acquired in Ohio. The color in the images is fairly accurate other than the flash in the 2nd image. Its never been fooled with other than to remove and haul it. I attempted to insert the images in this post, but apparently permission must be granted by a moderator. Thank you for any help you can provide. The image links are below. Rich

Hello Valpo,
If I am not mistaken it is out of a church rectory of the Catholic origin.

It is a fine looking piece and I think that you did a fine job of installing the pictures on the forum. I am one of the forum hosts and I don't know how to post them as you did as every time I try to post I can only post one at a time.

You have a nice surround indeed.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Hello Ralph.

Thank you for your response. The town I am in has a strong Lutheran background and several folks thought it may have come from one of their institutions. I know it originated in a home, and I thought perhaps the cross symbols could be attributed to something or someone other than a religious organization. The mantel does have a very nice look. Ralph, I appreciate your input and have enjoyed your numerous posts for quite some time. Thank you. Rich

wow, that is one great mantle.

it is difficult to put a maker to these kinds of builtins on buildings.

stylistically, it has lots of characteristics of Shop of the crafters, the crisscross pieces, cutout shapes, etc.

i would guess it is custom, made on site or in a local shop.

what kind of interior is it going in?

Hi Don.

I appreciate your reply and really enjoy your bungalow postings. Very entertaining.

My wife and I live in a Chicago style bungalow that doesn't have room for a surround of this kind without some significant work.

I thought there were some SOC similarities with this piece, but didn't know if anybody here may have seen something similar.

I deal in antiques and just couldn't pass on this piece. It has such a great look and while the crosses may hold some folks back, it could very well attract others.

It belongs in an AC home and will probably find one someday.

Thanks again for your response. Rich

pics fixed - just an html code thing - I revised it from a 'link' to an 'insert' - basically you put this around the url for the picture: [img]..picture url..[/img]; you can either type it out or use the second from the right command box that pops up over your message box - easy when you do it a couple times

Here's my take on the piece. The cross and shield is classic heraldry from medieval England, the time of the crusades, the Knights of Templar (I think) type of thing. The criss-cross framing is likely UK as well, some sort of mix of English, Scottish, and Irish crosses - St. George, St. Andrews, and St. Patrick - if there was a horizontal piece it would be a Union Jack (maybe one side broke and somebody cut the rest to balance it - maybe check for saw marks or similar). Here's a pic of the Union Jack and the various crosses that go into it, to show what I'm talking about:

Here is my take on the mantel.

Yes,it is from an arts and crafts interior. But this is probably from a house style called Tudor (1890 to 1940) that recalls the medieval orgins or influences of Morris and the English Arts & Crafts.

In that style you will find heraldic symbols--shields, crosses, lions, griffens, etc. They often had patterned brick or stone work with steep gabled roofs or stucco walls. About half of them had half-timbering on the second floor with multi-paned windows in a diamond shape or six over six pattern. Sometimes they looked a bit like castles or swiss chalet.

Note the pointed top of each section of the fireplace mantel. It recalls the feel of the roof line of those types of houses. The "Union Jack" cutouts duplicate a design often used for Tudor half-timbered exteriors.

The neat thing about Tudor and Four-Square houses is that the interiors where finished with the same attention to wood details as a typical Arts & Crafts house. This would include a Sears Bungalow house shipped by rail to all parts of the US, a Chicago Prairie style home, a CA Green & Green masterpiece or a Stickley designed Arts & Crafts house in Syracuse, NY.

For me, this means that our collection of Arts and Crafts furniture will blend in any of these style houses. We hope to buy one of those style houses this summer.

Bev.

Hi again.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to provide some opinions and insight on this piece.

It is complete and there were no alterations made. I looked closely, per Stonecat's suggestion.

It most likely came from a Tudor or Four Square style home that was being razed somewhere around Cleveland. Thanks Bev.

Rich