Altared States by Axis Mundi for ABC Stone

The fireplace once held court as a life-giving force, a protector, and a stage for life’s rituals—nature’s original sculptor. Within this new mantel collection entitled Altared States, John Beckmann, Founder and Principal Designer of Axis Mundi, resurrects this powerful symbol. Together with the ABC Stone team, the designer reveals a collection that speaks to both the primal and the polished—a line of mantels designed to bridge the hearth’s ancient gravitas with a sleek, modern edge. Through this lens, each architecturally-forward piece becomes a frame, elevating fire to an art form while imparting a gentle reminder of both its beauty and its menace. “Fire’s like a movie star,” says Beckmann, “everyone thinks they own it, but it does whatever it wants—you’ll never get rid of that little threat.”