Lenox (company)

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Lenox Group Inc.
Type Public (NASDAQ: LNX)
Founded 1889
Headquarters Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Example of Lenox "Ming" fired in 1929 (discontinued)
Example of Lenox "Ming" fired in 1929 (discontinued)

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

Contents

[edit] History

Lenox was founded in 1889 by Walter Scott Lenox as Lenox's Ceramic Art Company, Trenton, New Jersey. Lenox china became popular in the early 20th century when separate dining rooms and hostess parties became the new trend. 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.[1]

[edit] Presidential collection

The Reagan Service was modeled on Woodrow Wilson's china.
The Reagan Service was modeled on Woodrow Wilson's china.

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 seal of the president of the United States|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.[2]
Example of Lenox blank band china with floral inlay cir. 1932
Example of Lenox blank band china with floral inlay cir. 1932

Beside fine china and collectibles, Lenox also produces flatware, serving pieces, vases.[3], and Department 56 items.







[edit] References

  1. ^ Antique China-Porcelain Collectables
  2. ^ White House Lenox
  3. ^ Lenox products Educational Page

[edit] Books

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

[edit] External links