Mantel and fire screen, 1888

Carved by Frank Pierson Richards, Springfield, IL
Aesthetic style
Oak

Frank Richards carved these pieces on his farm in Edinburg, Illinois. His carvings won a blue ribbon at the Illinois State Fair about 1920. The mantel and fire screen were displayed but never used in his home on 1160 West Elliot Street in Springfield. The mantel illustrates the hearth's change from the functional center of the home, with its use for cooking and heating, to its more symbolic function as the center of family activities.

Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Earl Richards, Springfield, IL (746011)

Furniture

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96