Early 20th Century h.l. Judd Art Nouveau Expandable Owl Book Rack No. 9776

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Description

An authentic early-20th-century American Art Nouveau expandable book rack by H.L. Judd & Co., also known as the Judd Manufacturing … Read more An authentic early-20th-century American Art Nouveau expandable book rack by H.L. Judd & Co., also known as the Judd Manufacturing Company, dating to circa 1910–1920.

The sand-cast iron end panels feature wonderfully detailed owls perched among flowing pine branches and pinecones. Stylized contours, textured grounds, and sculptural naturalistic ornament reflect the American Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts decorative vocabulary of the period. Each casting bears the molded Judd factory model number 9776 on its reverse. Judd produced decorative art-metal bookends, book racks and desk accessories in Wallingford, Connecticut, during the early decades of the 20th century.

Two telescoping brass rails allow the rack to contract to approximately 8.5 inches or expand to 15 inches, accommodating anything from a small grouping of treasured volumes to a larger desktop collection. The mechanism remains smooth and fully functional.

The original dark bronze and antique-gold patina has been deliberately preserved rather than polished, retaining the depth, tonal variation and historic surface developed over more than a century. The owl—traditionally associated with wisdom and learning—is an especially appropriate motif for a library, study or reading room.

From an interior-design perspective, this sculptural antique book rack embodies the layered, collected character associated with the Ralph Lauren Home aesthetic. Its aged brass tones and dark original patina pair beautifully with mahogany furniture, worn leather, tartan textiles, equestrian artwork and shelves of antique books. Styled on a traditional library table, executive desk or built-in bookcase, it brings authentic period character to a Ralph Lauren–inspired study, English-country library, masculine traditional office or richly layered dark-academia interior.

Both practical and highly decorative, this compact expandable book rack offers a functional way to display antique books, journals or favorite volumes while introducing an authentic piece of early American art metalware into a collected interior.

DIMENSIONS
15″ W × 6.5″ D × 4.5″ H when fully extended
Contracts to approximately 8.5″ wide See less