Jun 8 2007
François and Co the parent company of Stone Age Designs, introduces the Heritage Collection, a line of hand-carved limestone mantel pieces. These exquisite pieces are the mirror images of French antique mantels discovered in France. They are hand-carved by French artisans commissioned by François and Co. The Heritage Collection mantels emulate the appearance and preserve the legacy of original masterpieces, thus providing a true sense of history and timeless beauty to any modern home.
The Heritage Collection is first and foremost a testimony of the passion of Thierry François, founder and chief designer of François and Co. for antique hand-carved fireplace mantels. Marveled by the sense of history and architectural artistry conveyed by these authentic masterpieces, Thierry François has acquired during his travels throughout the Chateaux of France, a collection of unique mantels among the finest exemplars of their time. From the "Bastide" mantelpiece, an original Renaissance beauty, circa 1600, found in the French region of Provence to the "Vendome", a Louis XVI original mantel, circa 1800, discovered in a dilapidated Paris townhouse, each and every piece of the Heritage Collection is a treasure from the past.
François and Co. strive to bring this rich heritage and exquisite craftsmanship back into today's homes. They commission skilled stonemasons to carve exact replicas of the antique models. These authentic reproductions are hand-carved in France, using newly cut limestone or reclaimed stone from historical estates. This deliberate and specialized method imbues each of the Heritage Collection hand-carved replicas with an authentic and timeless beauty.
The Heritage Collection's limestone fireplace mantels showcase
The Heritage Collection is the newest addition to the product offerings of François and Co. The Company also markets under the trademark Stone Age Designs™, a Collection of hand-crafted Scagliola Stone™ fireplace mantels, kitchen hoods and architectural accents. Scagliola is a technique developed in Italy in the 17th Century. It is the art of mixing together chips of stone, and layering the mixture by hand to achieve a natural stone texture of amazing clarity and depth. Thierry François, the owner and chief designer of François and Co. began offering Scagliola Stone™ products in the U.S. in the late 1990's. Since that time, the Scagliola technique has become well known and respected among homeowners, as well as the design, architectural and builder communities as an authentic alternative to lesser cast stone and concrete products.