PREFACE TO THE SEVENTEENTH EDITION.
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FROM time immemorial the domestic hearth has been the theme of optimists and poets, who have lavished on it the most endearing words, and have associated it with their most delightful thoughts. The fireplace has always been, and always will be, the happiest rallying-place of the family. It has been aptly called the "sun in the house," and its ruddy glow, its sociable warmth, and cheering qualities have not been lost sight of in the development of æsthetic art as applied to home decoration during recent years, and the chimney-piece has been made, with most excellent results, the central part of the decorative scheme. To all home-builders there comes the thought, "We must have at least one or two open fireplaces." How natural the thought, and what great pleasures in even the anticipation.
As to the choice of materials for the Fireplace Mantel, nothing has ever been used that meets all requirements so completely as our Ornamental Unglazed Brick. The essential idea of a fireplace is "Brick" from beginning to end, and the practice of using a brick facing with a wooden mantel around it (a practice which is now passing by) has only been a sort of makeshift, employed because Ornamental Brick of new and artistic patterns were not obtainable, our Company being the first to make them. There is always so much woodwork in a room, anyway, so why overcrowd the eye with a "mantelful" more? The glazed tiles which were formerly used in mantels were found to have such a cold, hard, and glassy look that they have been relegated to bathrooms, elevator shafts, sanitary uses, etc., to such an extent that few people now care to consider their use about the fireside.
Our Brick Mantels are the best kind to have. The bricks are patterned after the most artistic Greek and Renaissance designs, and the appearance of them when set in mantels is that of carved work. The joints between the courses of brick serve to break up any tendency to a heavy or monumental effect, and the general appearance of our mantels is exceedingly soft, rich, and harmonious. They have a pleasing effect which the eye never tires of. They have the stamp of character, and their simplicity and modest elegance lend a particular charm to the surroundings.
The designs in this book were all prepared by a well-known Boston architect whose extended European travel rendered him peculiarly fitted for the work, and the designs embody many of the best ideas of the best brickwork of England and the Continent. Some of the designs are purposely shown in the architect's original pen-and-ink drawings, while the others are shown as photographs furnished by our customers. We make the brick in six colors; viz., red, cream, buff, pink, brown, and gray: thus giving you the choice of a color which will harmonize with or contrast properly with any scheme of surrounding decoration. The sizes of many of the designs can be altered to fit a required space. In shipping the brick, we pack them carefully in sawdust, in barrels, and with every order we furnish an architect's scale drawing and directions, and any intelligent brick-mason can easily set the mantels up.
The prices given in this book are net, and include packing and delivery to cars or steamer at Boston. In comparing prices of other kinds of mantels with our prices, please bear in mind that to the other prices you must add the expense of the brick or other material for the side linings, the back, the under-fire, and the hearth, while our prices include all these. Ours are far better than any other kinds, but still they don't cost any more.
Our mantels are suitable for any kind of a room, the selection depending upon the size, the color, the amount of ornamentation, etc. They are substantial and durable, and look just as well in after years as when new. It is folly to build a house and put in articles that are passing out of use. The more permanent furnishings should be of the newest designs. That means that the Fireplace Mantels should be of our Ornamental Brick. No other kind combines so many good, practical, and artistic features. Of all kinds, ours are the most unique, the fittest, and the best.