There is provided a more expedient and positive desiccating means for an organic EL device. The invention relates to an organic EL device comprising 1) a laminate consisting of an opposed pair of electrodes and an organic light-emitting layer sandwiched between the electrodes, 2) a gas-tight housing accommodating the laminate and shielding off the external atmosphere and 3) a desiccating means disposed in isolation from the laminate within the gas-tight housing, characterized in that a preformed moisture-absorbing artifact as the desiccating means is fixedly secured to at least one part of the gas-tight housing and further to a method of manufacturing the same device.