Lenox Fine China – Dinnerware for the White House

It may interest you to know that Lenox is an American company, and since 1889, it has produced tableware, dinnerware and gifts for U.S. presidents and official functions - and has been creating heirlooms for families throughout America. Lenox, in fact, was the first American china to grace dining tables at the White House.

The company has a long established tradition of exquisite craftsmanship and attention to design detail whith it's many irresistable patterns. There's a story behind how Lenox broke the stranglehold european manufacturers had over the U.S. china trade. Read on for more about the history behind this American icon.

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Lennox China - The Dinnerware of Presidents

Lenox was started in 1889 by its founder Walter Scott Lennox. Born in Trenton NJ in 1859, the foremost center for the American Ceramics industry in that time, Walter Lennox combined his interest in drawing and clay and began working at a pottery plant as a designer and decorator at 16 years old.

When he turned 22 he became joined Ott & Brewer as their design director. Ott & Brewer eventually folded a few years later and that's when he decided it was time to go it on his own.

A mere seven years after taking the design director position Walter Lennox was starting his own company the Lenox's Ceramic Art Company opening it's doors in 1889. Walter created his ceramics as an art and even positioned his new company as an Art Studio instead of a factory. Most of his early productions were one-of-a-kind made of ivory china.

The Lenox China was originally made buy only 18 employees and consisted of a line of vases, pitchers and tea sets. Since he had laid the groundwork for his productions to be consider art they were picked up by the most elite shops of the time. In 1897 even the Smithsonian Institution showed a collection of Lennox China.

In the early 1900's fine home dining came into vague and Lennox was quick to transition his company to handle the new dinnerware needs of the country. He began offering full sets of dinnerware to very exclusive families in early 1902, fighting the European control over the fine china trade.

As America's demand for Lennox China continued to grow he changed the name of the company to Lenox Incorporated to reflect his reversal of philosophy from the Ceramic Art Company to more of a mass production company.

The company's first large scale productions of Lennox China came in 1910 and were patterned with transfer prints that were then colored by hand. In 1917 Lennox China went to full color lithographic designs. The original two designs, Mandarin and Ming, were popular in America for over 50 years. These decals made sure every piece of dinnerware was decorated exactly the same and created a type of trademark look. Hosts were excited to have the new patterns on their dinner table that were easy to recognize so their guests knew they could afford Lennox China.

Lennox was becoming known as the china to have in the United States. In 1918 the white house ordered 1,700 pieces for official state services. Lennox China was the first American china to be used at the white house and has remained that way since.

Walter Scott Lennox dies in 1920 having succeeded in his quest for "perfection of American porcelain."

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Adding Excitement to Home Decor with Tableware

Buying dinnerware and other tableware that you like is tricky enough, but making sure that it goes with the rest of your home decor can be pretty difficult. Fortunately, if you pay attention and choose your pieces carefully, you'll end up with an attractive set of tableware that doesn't clash or argue with your existing decor. Here are a few tips to help you choose quality dinnerware that looks good in your home.

Your Budget

The first thing to do is pick a budget, and decide what kind of dinnerware you're looking for. Casual dishes, used for home dinners, snacks, and breakfasts, are different from the fine tableware you'll keep around for special occasions. Know which is which and what you prefer.

The first thing to do is decide what you're looking for. Casual dishes and fine tableware are different. They require different care and are used for different purposes. Casual dinnerware is used for dinners and breakfasts at home, snacks and similar uses. Fine tableware is more likely to be saved for special occasions.

Of course, you can use dinnerware for other purposes than what it was originally intended for. Bold casual dinner sets can be used for many special occasions if it coordinates well. Some people use a subdued set of fine dinnerware on an everyday basis. Just remember that it's often a little harder to care for fine dinnerware than casual pieces.

Decide what your budget is before you go shopping. High quality tableware can become very expensive. However, it's a good idea to make sure that you're buying a quality set, as well as one that matches your existing decor. If there's any question, choose tableware that is more classic in appearance, since it'll stay in style, even after you've changed your home's decorating scheme.

Buy the Highest Quality You Can Afford

Even if means making a few sacrifices, buy the highest quality pieces you can afford. If you want, you can collect pieces over a longer period of time, as long as the line isn't discontinued before you finish your collection. You can also look at the number of people you usually serve and buy a place setting at a time to reach that number.

Four, six, and eight person settings are often sold together, but if you don't need that many settings, you can save by purchasing fewer. Likewise, while additions like a teacup saucer and gravy bowl or platter are wonderful, and really draw the set together, they may need to be purchased later as you can afford them.

Unless you're extremely lucky, you'll probably break a piece of your tableware someday. Even with the proper care, something will eventually be damaged. To make sure your set isn't orphaned, be sure to be able to get replacement pieces from the manufacturer. Some even offer this option on discontinued patterns, allowing you to easily replace a broken piece.

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