The relief on both panels is a golf bag — a full stand bag with clubs protruding from the top, the rounded body rendered in cast pot metal with a pebbled surface that reads as the dimpled texture of golf ball leather. Two curved open-work armatures sweep out from either side of the central form, creating the letter cradles. The base is flat and wide, finished with an engraved leaf-and-braid border. The whole thing sits squarely on a desk and does its job: holds letters, correspondence, napkins — whatever needs holding — with a confidence that only comes from something cast in metal and built to last.
The base carries three marks: USA in an oval cartouche, a rectangular catalog number, and a small heraldic shield trademark — the manufacturer's registered mark. American-made, the construction style and marking conventions place this in the productive postwar decades when golf-themed desk accessories were standard issue for the executive study or the den of anyone who took their game seriously. The twisted-rope detail on the armatures and the knotted center where the curves intersect show a caster who was paying attention to finish.
Condition: Very good. Even surface oxidation throughout — grime worked into the recessed casting detail, honest aging on the high points. No bends, no breaks, no missing elements. Hardware intact. A cleaning would restore significant brightness to the metal.
Hunter's Notes
Found at the Salvation Army in Rochester, Michigan. The heraldic mark and the golf bag detail drew me in — someone made this with real attention.
The Archive Record — JLM-240022
| Maker |
Unknown American manufacturer — USA oval mark confirmed; heraldic shield trademark; catalog number on base |
| Established |
Unknown |
| Object |
Golf bag figural desk letter holder / napkin holder |
| Material |
Cast pot metal (zinc alloy) |
| Construction |
Cast pot metal; relief golf bag form; open-work curved armature cradles; engraved leaf-and-braid base border |
| Era |
Circa 1950s–1960s | confidence: attributed |
| Country of Origin |
United States — confirmed (USA oval mark) |
| Condition Tier |
Good |
| Condition |
Even surface oxidation throughout, grime in recessed casting detail consistent with age. No bends, breaks, or missing elements. Hardware intact. Cleaning would restore significant brightness. |
| Hunt Provenance |
Salvation Army, Rochester, Michigan — November 2024 |
| Authentication |
USA oval cartouche mark, rectangular catalog number, and heraldic shield trademark on base — confirmed American manufacture; manufacturer name unresolved |
| Comparable Sold |
$28–$48 (eBay / Etsy — May 2026) |
| JLM Price |
$38 |
| Food Safe |
not applicable |
| Lead Risk |
yes — pot metal casting; handle with care |
| Child Safe |
no |
| Gift Idea |
Golfer Gift, Desk Decor, Executive Study |
Product Specs
| Dimensions |
4″ L × 2″ W × 4″ H |
| Weight |
0.75 lb |
