Jun 25 2007
François & Co. introduces the new Heritage Collection of fireplace mantels - Authentic Replicas of fireplace mantels from the French and Italian Renaissance made in Hand-Carved Limestone or in Scagliola Stone™.
François & Co, is a premier source for Hand-Carved Limestone Fireplace Mantels and fine Hand-Crafted Fireplace Mantels and Kitchen Hoods in Scagliola Stone™.
Scagliola Stone™
Scagliola Stone™ is as rich in texture as it is in history; Scagliola is a technique developed by impoverished Italian Monks in the 17TH century to restore a monastery lost in the mountains of central Italy. In 1997, Thierry François discovered the secret recipe of the Monks to create Scagliola Stone™, an aggregate of marble chips combined with secret stabilizing agents and pigments that once layered by hand, achieve a natural stone texture of amazing clarity and depth which has become the trademark of François & Co.
This stone is used today to create stone mantels that are indistinguishable from the original stone found in monasteries and castles throughout France. The technique and the material now known as Scagliola Stone™ is used today by the artisans of François & Co to hand-craft scagliola fireplace mantels, stone mantels, custom stone mantels, as well as kitchen hoods, stone kitchen hoods, and custom stone kitchen hoods.
The Mantel Collection of François & Co. also features fireplace mantels cast in copper or pewter as well as a series of contemporary fireplace designs. The Metal Collection, featuring fireplace designs in copper or pewter, is stunning. Each of the custom stone fireplaces of this beautiful line combines a historically-inspired design with the modern sophistication of a metallic patina.
Authentic Replicas: Hand-Carved Limestone Fireplace Mantels
The designers of François & Co. travel to France to select one-of-a-kind antique fireplace mantels, some of the finest masterpieces from the Renaissance. Then, the French craftsmen from François & Co. meticulously re-create the work of the original artists; they painstakingly carve exact replicas of the original masterpieces in either reclaimed or newly cut limestone. Each of these exquisite authentic stone replicas is the mirror image of an antique French custom stone fireplace and conveys a tremendous sense of history.
These unique authentic replicas as well as our new fireplace designs are also available in our trademark Scagliola Stone™. François & Co. also retains the original antique fireplace mantels that are used as models for the replicas, and makes them available to the visitors of its Showrooms across the United States.
Homeowners as well as designers and architects of Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and Los Angeles may visit one of our Showrooms in person yet, they represent only a small portion of our discriminating clientele from across the United States who seek out François & Co. online for their custom mantles and kitchen hoods, as well as for architectural accents and custom designs for individual homes and offices.