Fireplace Mantel/Architecture question

[okieinla]

The only word that I can come up with when describing my fireplace mantel is 'funky'.
The house was built in 1925 and the plaster/stucco mantel above it is not your traditional wood surround or wood shelf. I'm not even sure if one could call it a mantel... it's almost like a piece of sculpture that is organic the wall itself.
It's difficult to describe but I was wondering if anyone has background info re: types of fireplaces mantels from the '20's?
My internet searching has come up with nothing.

[pmcalk]

Can you post a picture?

[waterboy]

That period of time was well into Jazz. It manifested itself in many different elements other than music. If the plaster is heavily swirled with deep valleys it may be "Jazz Plaster". The same materials used for plaster walls only thickly sculpted. Since much of the heating from that period used low grade fuel oil or coal and was gravity flow central heating, the fumes often collected along the peaks/valleys and created a surreal effect.

[okieinla]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

Can you post a picture?

[:I]
I'm technically challenged. I've tried to drag the photo
from desktop & drop into post, but I guess it doesn't work that way. I saw a post recently re: how to, but now I can't find it.

[okieinla]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

That period of time was well into Jazz. It manifested itself in many different elements other than music. If the plaster is heavily swirled with deep valleys it may be "Jazz Plaster". The same materials used for plaster walls only thickly sculpted. Since much of the heating from that period used low grade fuel oil or coal and was gravity flow central heating, the fumes often collected along the peaks/valleys and created a surreal effect.

Thanks Waterboy. Wow, Jazz plaster! I absolutely love learning about it all. In this case, it's not necessarily the type of plaster used. Let's just say, I wouldn't be able to hang a flat screen tv
over the firelplace.