Over Mantel Mirrors, Pictures & Panels The fireplace is the focal point of the room, hence particular attention, should be paid to its decoration. It should not be left to a haphazard bunch of flowers to give it charm nor to a collection of personal photographs to give it interest. There are many over mantel decorations that are peculiarly fitted for such a position of prominence. The first selection is the ancestral portrait. For the dining-room the portrait of an ancestral lady is appropriate; seemingly she presides, as of yore, over the table. An old fashioned child portrait is also suitable for this room, but the child should be attractive. An ugly child, however virtuously cherished as an ancestor, had better be honored by the memory of her good deeds than by having her homely little face displayed on the walls. Thus may the question of the family portraits be solved. Imagine the additional pride and glory accorded them when set in the very walls of their own house and home! See that the paneling of the wall frames the portrait and at the same time follows out the constructive lines of the room. There are lovely old flower pictures or copies of French paintings of the style of Fragonard that give a real benediction of charm to a room done in the French style. These copies may be purchased at a reasonable sum, considering their decorative value. Having a special picture painted to suit the individuality of the owner and the space over the mantel is a luxury we may all covet and may all acquire at no exorbitant expense. Such a picture will embody the spirit of the house. Symbolic pictures done in a modern flat tone style make a suitable over mantel for a library or living-room. In fact, a picture of this sort should be done as a flat decoration, never as a naturalistic painting. It is obvious that one should avoid a picture of mediocre interest, for it will cast its influence over the room. If a room lacks dignity, a subdued panel picture gives it much refinement and stateliness. If a room needs humanizing, a clear, fresh landscape with dazzling sunlight against soft greens will relieve the austerity of a constrained, cold interior. For a library a fine old engraving carries out the scholarly spirit with which books endow that room. A copy of one of the early Italian pictures, painted in three parts, will fit in well over an Italian fireplace, especially when set in a dull gold and polychrome frame and placed close against the wall. All over mantel decorations, such as pictures, mirrors or plaster reliefs, should be placed flat against the wall, and, if the room is paneled, they should be set into the paneling that they may be part of the wall decoration. The greatest care should be taken in the placing of these panels, as, once in place, they cannot readily be changed. They should look as though they were actually designed to suit the space and the room. They should not bs covered with glass as they are an integral part of the wall, not an applied ornament. In a dining-room, over mantel panels with flower decorations in deep, rich tones are wonderfully effective and not very expensive. They should be painted after the manner of the old Flemish flower pictures-shadowy in tone with the bouquet in an urn or basket. The colors selected for the flowers should tone in with the hangings, woodwork and upholstery. At the time of Louis XVI the Chinese influence that was strongly felt found particular expression in the painted panels. Filled with arabesques, Chinese figures and scenes exquisitely done in delicate tones, they made the ideal over mantel decoration then, and have proven the same to-day. Copies of these are procurable. They should be placed in a room that is sparsely furnished so that the panel may be accorded full attention. Several of these may be used in a dining-room, reception room, boudoir or bedroom where the intricacy of workmanship and delicacy of color will show to good advantage. What would we do without mirrors to aid and abet our scheme for making a room look larger, broader and more luxurious! As an over mantel, they help architecturally by their shape and their frame, and carry out the detail of the period as do the fixtures. In fact, the mirror and the accompanying side fixtures or mantel candelabra are often the most carefully studied decorations in the room. A silver Adam mirror that strictly adheres to the design of the period and is flanked by silver side fixtures, equally authentic in design, will give a room unbelievable distinction. Here again the furnishings should not detract from the attention such a mantel treatment deserves. Another grouping - this time for a smoking-room fireplace - would be a black and gold lacquered mirror with a pair of black lacquered candlesticks flanking it. Mirrors do not appear to the best advantage in a dark tone room of English or Italian style, unless it be one of the beautifully, heavily carved Italian gold or polychrome frames. Fabric for over mantels is a not uncommon treatment. If the fabric is lovely in itself, it requires no further addition to set it off. A tapestry, for example, can hang on its own merits. Again, a simple but effective overmantel is formed by a square of rich damask flanked by panels of plain velvet and edged with dull gold galloon. Against the damask may be placed a plaster cast of suitable subject in dull ivory finish or a majolica glazed plaque, or even a brass or silver salver of interesting design. Over-mantel carvings are again an architectural feature, like the painting which represents the spirit of the house. An old Chinese sign or carving may be used in a similar way over the mantel shelf, backed by a piece of rich but inconspicuous Chinese fabric, which serves to set it off and also fills the required space on the chimney breast. A wrought iron grill over the mantel on a porch is in keeping with the rather crude furnishings of the porch and makes a good trellis on which to grow ivy. If wrought iron is not desirable, the same idea can be executed in well designed wooden lattice. Next Page: Mantel Ornaments & Candlesticks. | 