206 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
November, 1914 
The picture in this instance detracts from the severity of the bricked chimney, 
with an effect in good taste and pleasing 
If one has good paneling over the mantel it should not be hidden behind objects 
of less interest. Lack of symmetry here is noticeable 
modate only candlesticks. Since nowadays one rarely thinks of 
hanging a cover over the mantel-shelf, mention of it as an ex¬ 
ample of poor taste is-scarcely necessary. There can be used, 
however, a narrow runner: an 
old ecclesastical stole, for ex¬ 
ample, spread lengthwise with 
the broad ends left to hang, or 
under the central figure a 
piece of cloth of gold or rich 
brocade with a narrow edge 
hanging over the front of the 
mantel shelf. 
Another phase of mantel 
decoration is the treatment of 
the chimney breast itself. 
The varieties are legion. First 
of all, brick, decorative or 
plain, or plaster, rough and 
toned to the general color 
scale of the room. The latter 
may be elaborated by the in¬ 
sertion in cement of deco¬ 
rative tiles covering either a 
part or the entirety of the 
chimney breast. Again, a 
tapestry or brocade hung 
against it will give color if it 
fits in well witli the tone of 
the plaster. Often a very 
ornately carved mantel is 
sufficiently decorative in it¬ 
self. In many instances there 
is no mantel at all, the hood 
extending from the front 
edge to well up toward the 
ceiling. 
When the chimney face is 
paneled with some finely grained wood the barest simplicity in 
mantel decoration should obtain. The objects on the shelf should 
in nowise be so elaborate as to detract from the interest given by 
the graining itself, nor should they be so high as to obstruct the 
view of it. And en passant, when will folks come to know that 
nothing in this world can be more beautiful than a finely-grained 
piece of wood ? Finished with 
a natural stain, left there to 
be beauty itself, nothing more 
lovely, more interesting, more 
genuinely attractive, can be 
conceived. And if such a 
panel finishes the woodwork 
above the mantel, let it reign 
supreme — for it is worthy the 
place of honor in the room. 
A picture or mirror may be 
hung against the chimney 
breast, or be inserted as a part 
of the paneling. If it is set 
flush with the woodwork no 
frame is necessary save a nar¬ 
row beading. Should the pic¬ 
ture be bung separate, then 
the woodwork of the frame 
ought to conform with the 
character of the rest of the 
woodwork in the room. 
The indented chimney breast 
arranged in a series of 
gradines will carry many ob¬ 
jects, though both the charac¬ 
ter of the room should be ex¬ 
pressed in those objects and a 
certain unity through them all, 
to prevent the whole looking 
like a curio collection. 
As a final word, it is the 
good bric-a-brac, wrongly 
placed through lack of knowl¬ 
edge or judgment, that most needs “taming.” Bad bric-a-brac 
merits destruction. The good kind and its proper arrangement 
should be the only kind considered for use above the mantel. 
An interesting Queen Anne or early Georgian fireplace. While it is dignified in line, 
detad in the painting relieves the formality. The fire curtains deserve attention 
