This heavy bronze letter rack was made by the factory of renowned artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany. A trained painter, L.C. Tiffany was the son of Tiffany & Company co-founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and proved to be a multi talented artisan who worked with a variety of media including gemstones, enamel, metal, and glass. Tiffany first established his company as Louis C. Tiffany and Co., Associated Artists in 1879, eventually renaming it Tiffany Studios in 1900 and creating Tiffany Furnaces in 1902.

This letter rack has been made in Tiffany's Louis XVI pattern and features French neoclassical decoration. The decorative motifs include laurel garlands, shells and ribbons tied in bows, all of which are set against a textured ground. The rack has two tiers suitable for holding letters or other papers. The piece can be seen on page 70 in the illustrated reference book 'Tiffany Desk Treasures' by George A. Kemeny and Donald Miller. The sought after pattern is designated by the authors as "difficult to find".

The letter rack is in excellent condition with no damage or restoration. As an antique item, this desk accessory shows appropriate signs of use including minor wear/discoloration to the gilded surface. In addition, there are four green felt dots which have been applied to the underside of the piece to protect the surface on which it is displayed which I have not attempted to remove. The rack is 9" wide, 2.25" deep and stands 5.375" at its tallest point. The underside bears the impressed Tiffany Studios mark and reads "TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK" along with the model number "1826". The rack is quite substantial and weighs in at 3lbs 6oz.

This rare letter rack displays beautifully and would be a fine addition to a desk in a library or office. An elegant and useful piece sure to be noticed wherever it is displayed.