Camel Inkwell (Large)

A cold painted white metal recumbent camel, wearing a brightly colored saddle with fringes. The saddle opens to reveal the inkpot. This camel inkwell, part of a larger desk set, comes in two sizes – this is the larger of the two. The H.L. Judd & Company, Wallingford, CT manufactured these pieces, primarily for the Masonic Shriners Organization, in the 1920’s.

In addition to the camel inkwells, the set included a rocker blotter, letter holder, letter opener, calendar, fez paperweight, paper clip, pen tray, ash tray, match holder, and desk pad corners.

Judd Manufacturing Company’s roots date back to 1833 as a harness manufacturer in New Britain, Connecticut. The firm changed hands among family members and company names for a hundred years as it evolved into the J.H. Judd Co. of Wallingford, Connecticut.

In 1864, Albert, Edward and Hubert Judd moved the company to New Haven, Connecticut, then to its permanent location in Wallingford, Connecticut. A few years later, Hubert Judd struck out on his own to start the H.L. Judd Company in Brooklyn, NY. In 1886, H.L. Judd took control of the Wallingford plant.

In the early 1910s, they began to produce a decorative art metal line of fine-quality sand castings in iron, brass, and bronze.