Letter Holder, H. L. Judd Co, Cast Iron Owl & Pine Cones Desk Organizer, USA, Antique 1910s

An owl keeps watch over a stack of pine cones on this Art Nouveau letter holder — equal parts sculpture and sorter, the kind of object that makes a desk feel considered.

• Maker: H. L. Judd Co. #6643
• Materials: Cast Iron
• Dimensions: Approx. 7.5 inches Long x 5 inches Tall x 2.75 inches Deep
• Origin: Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
• Era: Antique, Circa 1910s
• Condition: Very Good antique condition with natural surface patina. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

This piece carries the maker's stamp, #6643, on its base, cast in heavy iron sometime in the 1910s or '20s. The surface here shows the soft, even patina that comes only with a century of honest use.

Judd traced its roots to an English brass foundry founded in 1830, and by the early twentieth century had become known for finely detailed sand-cast hardware — bookends, doorstops, letter holders — work distinctive enough to be exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It holds its own on a home office desk, an entryway table, or a kitchen counter for the day's mail — and makes a fitting gift for the antique lover, the owl collector, or anyone who likes their desk accessories with a bit of history.

Browse our other antique desk accessories and cast iron collectibles to round out your collection.