Fireplace Plaques?

Hi there! I recently bought a Queen Anne and there's a bit of detail that I've not had much luck doing research on. I was hoping maybe someone here might be familiar and could shed a little light on it.

The dining room has a sort of built-in display case stretching across it. in the center is the fireplace. At the top of the display case above each side of the fireplace, there's a small metal plaque with text inscribed.

Fireplace photo:
http://yougiveloveabad.name/gallery/v/house_hunting/1021_portage/first_floor/DSCN3514.JPG.html

Left plaque: "Honest toil is holy service, faithful work is praise and prayer"
http://yougiveloveabad.name/gallery/v/house_hunting/1021_portage/first_floor/DSCN3681.JPG.html

Right plaque: "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be
useful or believe to be beautiful"
http://yougiveloveabad.name/gallery/v/house_hunting/1021_portage/first_floor/DSCN3682.JPG.html

Is anyone familiar with this sort of thing? Was it common, or just something the original owner (or some later occupant) added as a personal touch?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide! :)

Congratulations on the purchase of a fine home!  Plaques such as yours seem very Arts and Crafts to me (1890-1910ish).  The cabinetry and hardware also seem circa 1910. I've seen tile and wallpaper with similar sayings.  A quick internet search showed the William Morris quote to be from a speech he gave in 1880.  The Henry Van Dyke quote is from "The Toiling of Felix" published in 1898.  If your house was built after 1898, they may be original.  If it was built before that, they were probably added later to "update" the home.  Regardless, they look old (and very appropriate) to me.