George Washington....

Today, in 1799, was a sad day. The father of our country and first president, George Washington passed away at his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia on this day. When you plan your visit to Mount Vernon, plan on stopping to visit Washington's tomb, the final resting place for our first president, Martha Washington, and other family members.

For more information on Mount Vernon and Washington's tomb, click on this link:

http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/535/

There's still time.....

Still can't think of what to buy that favorite person? Why not consider one of Woodmere's White House Collection ornaments? These flat round ornaments comes giftboxed with a beautiful gold ribbon just right for hanging on your tree or mantel.

For more information on Woodmere's White House Collection ornaments, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse.cfm

The President takes a bride....

Today, in 1915, President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Galt.

In 1918, the new First Lady happened to see a Lenox china display at the Washington store of Dulin and Martin. So impressed with the quality, she then requested that Lenox begin designing a new design for use in The White House. The resulting design (pictured) stands the test of time and looks as appropriate today as it did when ordered in 1918. Mrs. Wilson was also largely responsible for the cataloging and assembling of the collection of china that exists at The White House today.

This is a good time to remind that the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, DC continues its exhibit - "The Presidential Dish: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and The White House China Room", featuring the china from the noted collction of Mr. and Mrs. Set Momjian.

For more information, please click on this link:

http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/index.asp?section=exhibit&file=exhibit&ID=25

The White House China Room

Often overlooked, The White House itself has a nice informative page on their collection of presidential china. Using samples from both state china and family china collections, The White House has something from just about every president.

If you are interested in more information on The White House China Room, click on this link:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/china.html

Holiday entertaining....

For the past several years, our customers have been asking us to come out with a serving platter and last year, we did. Our 16 inch oval platter is available in all of our presidents in Woodmere's White House Collection. Perfect to serve a turkey or holiday ham! Or....they are beautiful enough to serve as your table centerpiece! Pictured is the President Monroe oval platter.

For more information on Woodmere's White House Collection oval platters, click on this link, then select the president of your choice:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse.cfm

And don't forget to check out Monroe's home at Ashlawn-Highland. Click here to see thier website: http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/

More Washington.....

Today, in 1884, the Washington Monument was completed. The dedication would occur on Washington's birthday - February 22nd - in the new year of 1885.

For more information on the Washington Monument, click on this link:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/wamo/home.htm

President Washington's State China

Speaking of Washington, most folks are aware of his "states" china, shown here on the right, but most folks are not aware of his state china which he purchased from Count de Mustier, the French foreign mininster, in 1790. While the original pieces of this gold service were made at the factory in Sevres, many of the pieces added later were made a several other French factories. Washington continued to add to this service and used it for state dinners when the capitol of our country was New York for a brief time.

For more information on Woodmere's Washington state china, click on this link:
http://www.woodmerechina.com/amtreasures_items.cfm?item=29

Fraunces Tavern, NYC

Today, in 1783, General George Washington said goodbye to his troops at famed Fraunces Tavern in New York City.

For more information, click on this link: http://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/mus_farewell.html

Andrew Jackson Elected!

Today, in 1828, Andrew Jackson was elected the 7th President of The United States.

Take a minute and visit the website of "The Hermitage" and if you are in the Nashville area, definitely plan to stop and visit. For more information on The Hermitage, click on this link:

http://www.thehermitage.com/

National First Ladies Library Museum Exhibit

Below, you see the picture of this year's First Ladies Library Christmas plate "The Nutcracker" and we thought it would be good to remind everyone of the great exhibit currently running at the Library.

"Party Politics: Entertaining at The White House" is an exhibit featuring many of the chinas of a number of presidents. With so many actual china pieces from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Set Momjian, this exhibit is spectacular and will continue to run through March 28, 2008.

For more information, click on this link:

http://www.firstladies.org/index.htm

First Ladies Library Christmas Plate 2007

Woodmere, again, is proud to be the producer of The National First Ladies Library Christmas plate. The 2007 edition, entitled "The Nutcracker" is available from the First Ladies Library gift shop.

For more information, contact the First Ladies Library at http://www.firstladies.org/

December White House China E-Journal

The December issue of Woodmere's White House China Journal is out! This issue focuses on the various chinas of President James Monroe. If you are interested in receiving our e-journal, contact us through our website - http://www.woodmerechina.com/ - or give us a call at 1-800-345-0332.

John Adams Heads to France

Today in 1777, John Adams was named to go to France to represent our country. It was in France that this beautiful china was purchased. The fact that Adams was the first president to actually take up residence in The White House would make this more than likely the first china to be used there.

For more information on Woodmere's John Adams china, click on this link:
http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse_items.cfm?item=45

New Book on White House Entertaining

There's a new book out about entertaining at The White House, including some info on the various china that was used. Some great photos.....we will review in the coming weeks and let you know what we think.

Meanwhile, you may check out Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or Borders....they are sure to have it.

"Presidential" Maxims....

While not exactly typical White House china, Woodmere's new American Maxims line of oval trays features famous quotes by several presidents, including Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Adams, and Reagan.

These make a great holiday gift for the truly 'hard-to-buy-for" person.

For more information on Woodmere's American Maxims series, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/specials_items.cfm?item=40

White House China at Woodrow Wilson House

With today being the anniversary of the wedding of President Woodrow Wilson's daughter Jessie held at The White House in 1913, it seems like a good time to remind everyone of the great exhibit of White House China at the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, DC. Featuring china from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Set Momjian, this exhibit will run through August 4, 2008.

For more information on this exhibit, click on this link:

http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/index.asp?section=exhibit&file=exhibit&ID=28

For more information on Woodmere's White House Collection of china, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse.cfm

Zachary Taylor China

On this day in 1784, in Orange County, VA, President Zacary Taylor was born. During his brief 16 month administration, there was little china purchased for The White House. The one design attributed to him and displayed as his china in the current White House Collection is the English made design with a central eagle motif and a border made of Indian symbols.

For more information on Woodmere's Zachary Taylor china, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse_items.cfm?item=10

President Franklin Pierce's China

Today, in 1804, future president Franklin Pierce was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

While Pierce was President in 1853, the New York World's Fair was held and at the fair Pierce selected the first American-decorated porcelain table service for acquisition by the government. There were two china design presented and Pierce chose the one with the blue and gilt shield shown here (interesting to note, Mrs. Lincoln would later choose the other design with modifications).

Happy birthday, President Pierce!

If you would like to learn more about Woodmere's Pierce china, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse_items.cfm?item=9

Kennedy China

According to Margaret Klapthor's book "Official White House China", these pieces of French porcelain were chosen to be used for color samples by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as she considered a proposed new state china service. Unfortunately, today in 1963, she and President Kennedy boarded a plane for that fateful trip to Dallas.

The pieces shown are from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Set Momjian.

Upcoming White House China e-Journal

In the upcoming December issue of the White House China Journal e-newsletter, we will be focusing on President James Monroe's china....he had several sets. An aficianado of everything French, it is no surprise that the Monroes kept some of the finest china in all of society during their lifetime.

The dessert plates shown here were plates that were used in their Virigina homes - Highlands and Oak Hill.

More information is available on these patterns by clicking on these links:

Bouquet plate: http://www.woodmerechina.com/amtreasures_items.cfm?item=34

Rose et feuillage: http://www.woodmerechina.com/amtreasures_items.cfm?item=35

For more information on how to subscribe to Woodmere's White House China Journal e-newsletter, contact us through our website - http://www.woodmerechina.com/ - our give us a call at 1-800-345-0332.

November 19th, 1831...

....future President James Garfield is born in Orange, Cayuga County, Ohio.

Today, November 19th...

.... in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered what may be the most famous speech in American history - his Gettysburg Address.

And, despite President Lincoln not yet having completed his first term, Mrs. Lincoln was already thinking ahead to a china for the second term of her husband's presidency. Eventually, she would purchase the buff bordered china shown at right from the Philadelphia firm of J.L. Kerr. Two months after this china would arrive, President Lincoln would fall dead to bullet from the gun of John Wilkes Booth.

To learn more about Woodmere's reproduction of the Lincoln Second-Term china, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/amtreasures_items.cfm?item=43

Today, November 18th....

.... in 1886, former President Chester Alan Arthur succumbs to complications from a debilitating and fatal kidney ailment known as Bright’s Disease. In the words of former President Rutherford B. Hayes, Arthur’s term as president was most notable for "liquor, snobbery and worse."

President Arthur was one of the biggest proponents of the "decayed furniture sales" ridding the White House of a large portion of its china in a large auction in 1882. In fact, the house steward at the time William T. Crump, purchased enough china to resign from serving the President and opened what he called "The Garfield Dining Rooms" in Washington where he displayed his newly acquired collection of presidential china.

When entertaining, President Arthur preferred to use the Hayes china and purchased odds and ends, particularly dessert plates, from Tiffany and other sources. He both used and displayed these pieces, like the ones shown above.

Woodmere's White House China.....

....ever wonder how we make our china. We are putting together a pictorial trip to our design and production studio in New Castle, Pennsylvania for you. We'll be posting on our other blog - http://www.woodmerechina.blogspot.com/ - with pictures showing the various stages of how we produce our beautiful products.

This picture shows the components that make up a Lincoln dinner plate....the plate, the border decal, the center decal, and the decal of the backstamp. (notice how dark the border decal is before firing and the yellow you see is the cover coat on each decal; this disappears during the firing process leaving only the beautiful design)

So, be sure to be watching for this new, imformative series. I am sure there will be more than a few things that may surprise you.

Don't forget to check out our website - http://www.WoodmereChina.com/ - where all our products from each of our collections, including Woodmere's White House Collection, are featured.

Tomorrow, November 17th....

....in 1800, the U.S. Congress met for the first time in the new capital at Washington, DC. President John Adams then became the first occupant of the Executive Mansion, later renamed the White House.

http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/special/renovation-1792.htm

Today, November 15th....

....the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congess.

November 14th....

....today in 1881, Charles Guiteau (pictured at left) went on trial for the assasination of President James Garfield in July of this year. Garfield was shot as he went to the train station to join his wife on vacation at the Jersey shore. It was Guiteau who had the line, "I didn't kill Garfield, I only shot him. The doctors killed him." Guiteau wasn't completely wrong....it is widely thought that Garfield could have survived, but died of infections caused by his non-sterile, post shooting care.

President James Polk: Beautiful China - Hardly Used

Since President James Polk celebrated his birthday earlier this month - on November 2nd he would have celebrated his 212th birthday - we thought it appropriate to mention his beautiful china and comment on the use it got.

First of all, when President and Mrs. Polk arrived at The Executive Mansion, most all entertaining ceased. Being a strict Presbyterian, Sarah Childress Polk determined that the Presidency should be dignified and subdued. In addition, the previous Harrison/Tyler administrations had developed a well-earned reputation for lavish parties and frequent public entertainments. The Polks arrived and set about cleaning up the Mansion - both figuratively and literally. Getting rid of old household items through "decayed furniture sales", the Polks began to re-decorate and ended the practice of weekly and daily levees where the public could simply show up and be entertained.

As they set about refurbishing The Executive Mansion, the ordered new china from Edouard Honore in Paris as was the custom of the time. Honore was well known as a producer of the finest porcelain of the day. Ordering what apparently was a stock gold and white dinner service, the Polks had the shield of the United States applied and then added an additional service with a variety of floral subjects in the center. While Honore was a French company, the scrolled scalloping shape of the Polk china was more typical of English styles of the day. This was probably a result of Honore's primary business being to make products suitable to the American market.

A true testimony to their frugal entertaining ways, the Polks were one a the few early presidents to leave office with money set aside from their days in Washington.

To learn more about Woodmere's beautiful Polk china, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse_items.cfm?item=12

To learn more about Woodmere's Polk porcelain breakfast plate, click on this link:

http://www.woodmerechina.com/amtreasures_items.cfm?item=36

Today, November 11th....

....thank a veteran today and celebrate Veteran's Day.

Also....if you see Abigail Adams today, wish her a happy birthday. Today is the 263rd birthday to the first First Lady to actually live in "The President's House".

Millard Fillmore Arrives from Woodmere

Woodmere's newest additon to it's White House Collection of presidential china reproductions - the china of President and Mrs. Millard Fillmore - is off and running. Just in time for the holidays, the green bordered china with a center motif of a bird set in a floral bouquet is thought to probably family china brought with the Fillmores. With the green border encased in gold, the center design of this china is colorful and perfect to offset the gray, dreary Buffalo winters which the Fillmores had become accustomed to.

Millard Fillmore was rushed into residency at The White House because of the sudden death of President Zachary Taylor and, therefore, maintained a unostentatious and low-key manner of entertaining. Most levees and dinner parties during Fillmore's administration were kept smaller in size, with Fillmore's daughter Mary Abigail often serving as hostess.

To see the list of items available in the Fillmore china, click on this link:
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=znvcdccab.0.0.raqqyacab.0&ts=S0275&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woodmerechina.com%2Fwhitehouse_items.cfm%3Fitem%3D46&id=preview

Woodrow Wilson House: The Presidential Dish

It started on September 11, 2007 and will run through August of 2008, a fantastic new exhibit of Presidential china will open at the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, DC.

"The Presidential Dish: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and the White House China Room" is the title of the exhibit and will include examples of china from a number of Presidential administrations.

For more information on this upcoming program, click on this link:
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=i79fcecab.0.0.raqqyacab.0&ts=S0296&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woodrowwilsonhouse.org%2Findex.asp%3Fsection%3Dexhibit%26file%3Dexhibit%26ID%3D25&id=preview

Today, November 8th...

....in 1892, former President Grover Cleveland beat incumbent Benjamin Harrison, becoming the only president to win non-consecutive terms in the White House.

White House China E-Journal

Woodmere has created a new, electronic newsletter title "White House China Journal" with several issues already out. Focused on providing general information on presidential china used in The White House during various administrations, the e-newsletter will also provide various updates on Woodmere's reproductions of White House china.

Already featured articles include stories and links to exhibits concerning White House china at several museums including the National First Ladies Library, the JFK Library, and The Woodrow Wilson House.

To receive Woodmere's new White House China Journal, simply contact us through our website - http://www.woodmerechina.com/ or give us a call at 1-800-345-0332 and provide us your email address so that we can add you to our growing list of subscribers!

White House China Bits and Pieces

From our November issue of White House China E-Journal:

Did you know.....

...that the five vignettes on the border of the amaranth-colored Monroe china stand for Strength, Agriculture, Commerce, Art, and Science;

...that when she designed the Harrison china, Caroline Harrison referred to the Solferino Lincoln china for inspiration. In fact, she used the Lincoln idea of an inner border of stars to represent the number of states in the union.

...the golden rod flower, used in the border of the Harrison china, was a flower that Caroline Harrison had hoped to have made our country's national flower.

---President Chester Arthur held a "decayed furniture sale" at which 24 wagon loads of discards - including old Presidential china - were sold fetching $6000! Soon after the Arthur administration, Congress passed a law prohibiting "decayed furniture sales".

For a complete listing of Woodmere's White House Collection of presidential reproductions, click on this link:
http://www.woodmerechina.com/whitehouse.cfm

Who is Woodmere?

In case you are wondering...

....we are a 3o+ year old company, based in western Pennsylvania, whose primary business is the re-creation of historic reproductions. We are most widely known for our reproductions of presidential china - Woodmere's White House Collection. We also produce a variety of other historic porcelain reproductions such as Flowers of The First Ladies, Titanic VIP/1st Class China, and other dinnerware and giftware designs. In the area of historic reproductions, our focus is products dealing with our nation's heritage.

In addition, we are supplier of fine porcelain custom products for selected clients.

Our website is www.WoodmereChina.com

Welcome

We, here at Woodmere, have established this blog to communicate with others who are as interested in White House china and other china of our presidents as we are.

For those who share our interest, we look forward to hearing from you.