Lenox (company): Difference between revisions

Lenox is a manufacturer of porcelain and collectibles, and the only manufacturer of bone china based in the United States.

Lenox was founded in 1889 by Walter Scott Lenox as Lenox's Ceramic Art Company, Trenton, New Jersey. From the start it was organized as an art studio and not as a factory. It did not have full lines of ceramics but rather one-of-a-kind artwares. The company at first had just eighteen employees. Their products were carried in exclusive shops specializing in high quality pottery. Lenox's work showed up at Smithsonian Institution as early as 1897.^[1]

Lenox china became popular in the early 20th century when separate dining rooms and hostess parties became the new trend. Lenox then started making custom designed elaborately decorated dining plates. He had European competition but had his plates decorated artfully by such American artists as William Morley. He gained success at this and eventually turned his attention to complete sets of dinnerware. In 1906 he changed his firm's name from the Ceramic Art Company to Lenox Incorporated to show the widing scope of his products.^[1]

Indeed, two of the first patterns Lenox produced came out in 1917, the Ming and Mandarin, which were eventually manufactured for over fifty years. Lenox products also became well known thanks to Frank Graham Holmes, chief designer from 1905 to 1954 and who won several artistic awards such as the 1927 Craftsmanship Medal of the American Institute of Architects and the 1943 silver medal of the American Designers Institute. Of the afore mentioned, 34 Lenox pieces were chosen for display in 1928 by the elite National Museum of Ceramics in Sévres, France - the only American porcelain to receive this honor.^[2]

Lenox was the first American china to be used in the White House, and the company has since made china for five U.S. presidents. They are officially titled:

• The Wilson Service: Designed by Frank Holmes. Delivered to the White House between August and November 1918. The pattern is a deep ivory border surrounding a brighter ivory body and two bands of matte gold encrusted with stars, stripes, and other motifs.
• The Roosevelt Service: Ordered October 1934. It's is described as suitably patriotic, bearing a border of 48 gold stars, and the presidential seal in enamel colors on a lustrous ivory body.
• The Truman Service: Consisting of 1,572 pieces, the pattern includes a border of celadon green flanked by an etched gold band and a 24 karat gold rim on an ivory body. Delivered in early 1952.
• The Reagan Service: The pattern are bands of scarlet varying in width depending on the scale of the piece and are framed on each side with etched gold. The presidential seal, in raised gold, partially overlays the red border.
• The Clinton Service: The pattern features a border of pale creamy yellow, and images of the White House facades. Each piece in the placesetting is decorated with a different pattern, the motifs derived from outstanding architectural elements found in the State Dining Room, East Room, and Diplomatic Reception Room. No presidential seal appears.^[3]

Beside fine china and collectibles, Lenox also produces flatware, serving pieces, vases.^[4], and Department 56 items.

• Klapthor, Margaret Bown. White House China: 1789 to the Present. The Barra Foundation and Harry N. Abrams: 1999. ISBN 0-8109-3993-2.

• Lenox website Official homepage