Pressed Glass Inkwell on Cast Iron Base

Description

• Materials: Molded and heavy cast iron base and matching lift-off lid with an original thick, pressed clear glass insert/well.
• Design & Features:
  • Base: A heavy cast iron frame featuring a textured or patterned decorative border (often reflecting Eastlake, geometric, or stylized organic motifs popular in the late 19th century) supported by four short feet.
  • Pen Rack: Integrated directly into the front of the cast iron base is a built-in double pen rest designed to hold two dip pens or quill pens.
  • Inkwell: A heavy, clear pressed-glass square inkwell sits within the iron frame.
  • Lid: Features a matching cast iron, pagoda-shaped “lift-off” lid (non-hinged) adorned with geometric or fan-like motifs that matches the aesthetic of the base.

Age, Origin, and Manufacturer Analysis

• When was it made? (Age): This piece dates to between the late 1870s and the turn of the 20th century (c. 1880–1900). During this period, heavy cast-iron desk accessories decorated with bronze, copper-washed, or “japanned” finishes were mass-produced for executive offices, home libraries, and schools.
• Where was it made? (Country): It was made in the United States. The robust utility style, the integration of structural iron frames for pressed glass inserts, and the specific patent timelines point directly to American hardware and metal-casting foundries.
• Who made it? (Manufacturer): While numerous American foundries produced desk sets of this style, this particular model is characteristic of products manufactured by the H.L. Judd & Co. (often marked simply as “Judd”) of Wallingford, Connecticut.