In the early 20th Century, President Teddy Roosevelt complained, "We are dependent upon foreign factories for the very dishes from which the Chief Executive of the United States must eat." 

He was the last president to be able to make that complaint.   In 1918, First Lady Edith Wilson ordered 1,700 pieces of Lenox china, and state dinners at the White House have been served on Lenox ever since. 

Following the Wilson Service was the Roosevelt Service in 1934, the Truman Service in 1951, the Reagan Service in 1981, and the Clinton Service in 2000.

Serving as the standard of excellence in porcelain and dinnerware was the goal of the Lenox company since its founding.

In the late 19th century, the quest of American potters was to match the fine porcelain produced by Ireland's Belleek.   The companies that succeeded, such as Ott and Brewer, and Willets, became known as American Belleek.

A young New Jersey potter with experience working for both Ott & Brewer and Willets founded his own company in 1889.  The potter was Walter Scott Lenox, and the company was the Ceramic Art Company, often referred to as CAC or CAC American Belleek. 

Lenox founded CAC as an art studio rather than a factory, and created one of a kind items.  Within six years, his works were being displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.

In the early 20th century, wares for fine dining began to take precedence over the art ceramics, and in 1906, the company changed its name to Lenox Incorporated.

Today, Lenox  produces both china for fine dining, and collectibles, vases, candlesticks and figurines for home decor.

Continue to the next page for more, including pictures.


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