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What is the origin of the expression "proudly placed on our mantelpiece"? In what context started to be used?

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How can you identify the First use of a sentence? It's not an idiom – simchona♦ Feb 18 '12 at 18:52
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It's not an "expression". It's a verb phrase, and not idiomatic. As to when it was used for the first time, well, the only answer possible is "at some time in English history after there were mantelpieces on which things could be placed". – John Lawler Feb 18 '12 at 18:54

closed as not a real question by simchona♦, Matt Эллен, FumbleFingers, waiwai933♦ Feb 19 '12 at 6:24

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

1 Answer

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Mantelpiece is the shelf on top of the fireplace.
Even if it's just a small electric fire it's the place that people display the important photographs and ornaments - because it's the centre piece of the room.

It's not a particular common idiom though

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/03/mantelpieces-family-history

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