Early American fireplace
The family life of the early American pioneers revolved around fireplaces. Early fireplaces were responsible for cooking, heating and lighting. People's dependence on fireplaces lasted until the 19th century, when wood and coal stoves became popular.
In colonial times, rough wooden mantels, especially extended hardwood wall beams, were often used to hold candlesticks and other handy tools.
However, before about 1750, there was no such building element as a mantel in American fireplaces.
Influenced by the English fireplace
Most of the early American immigrants came from England, so the design and style of the fireplaces were similar to those in England.
Wealthy families mostly use marble mantelpieces imported from Italy.
With the peak of housing construction in the mid-eighteenth century, Italian marble mantelpieces were found to be in short supply. Greek and Roman wooden mantelpieces were quickly made, and early American wooden mantelpieces were made of oak.
Influenced by the industrial revolution
By the middle of the nineteenth century, the industrial Revolution had had a tremendous impact on the way Americans lived their daily lives, especially for city dwellers.
The use of fireplaces also began to change, from the past burning wood, coal began to fireplace fuel.
The result of this change was a reduction in the size of the fireplace, which began to be narrower and shallower.
Another change to fireplaces brought about by the Industrial Revolution was the widespread use of cast iron in the manufacture of hearth faces, stove doors, woodracks, fireplace tools, and so on.
At the same time, cast-iron stoves have begun to address cooking and heating more efficiently and conveniently, with the result that fireplaces gradually lose their original function.
In the end, the fireplace became a symbol of wealth and family.
Growing middle class is enjoying the convenience that material life brings on the one hand and comfortable, on the other hand, borrow adornment element to show its success and grade, fireplace is best prop.
American fireplace maturation period
Art and glass manufacturing technology has been unprecedented improvement.
The lines of the fireplace became more concise and powerful, and local stone and wood were also heavily used in the construction of the mantel;
At the same time, delicate manual work and practicality become the tenet.
But the Art Deco trend of the 1930s had little effect on the mantelpiece.