What is Lenox china? Two main dinnerwear lines, bone china and ivory china, make up the Lenox china line. "We have two fine dinnerware lines," says Timothy J. Carder, vice president of design at Lenox, Inc....
"We have two fine dinnerware lines," says Timothy J. Carder, vice president of design at Lenox, Inc. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. "We have Lenox fine ivory china and then our fine bone china, which is both ivory and white."
The popular Holiday collection, accented with exquisite 24 karat gold, is an example of dinnerware made from Lenox fine ivory china, and the elegant Landmark collection is an example of dinnerware crafted from fine bone china. Landmark pieces are accented with platinum or metallic gold, depending on the type.
Many selections, though undoubtedly delicate, are also dishwasher-safe. Some examples include Courtyard® Gold, which is a fine ivory variety, and the Columbus Circle line, which is made from fine white bone china. The versatility of these products is part of what makes them so popular. When choosing a pattern, it may be difficult to differentiate the two types of china because they both reflect the signature Lenox quality and design. However, one type is not necessarily better than the other; it basically depends on personal taste.
Carder explains, "Both of these bodies are similar with the exception of the one carrying both." The makeup of the ingredients truly separates the types. Says Carder, "The use of bone ash is to create translucency within china and to achieve the pure white. The china is a mixture of bone ash and felspar and then other fluxes."
Many hours of care and consideration are put into the creation of each piece of Lenox china. The process is collaborative across the different factories and essentially across the world. One specific piece may have traveled between two or three continents by the time it reaches the consumer. Carder explains what happens once the materials are ready for production. "[The pieces] are made in our factories in batches of dry materials and then dry filter pressed, and then [put] into plastic plates. All of the material is prepared in our plants and the raw ingredients come from around the world."
Carder is careful to point out that different collections and pieces originate in a variety of different places. "We have other tabletop products which are stoneware and earthen ware and those are coming from again different regions. It just depends again which category you are looking at." There is no definite way to know all of the places your piece(s) may have traveled on their journey to your table.
Carder says, "We have so many classifications of products; you can't really generalize because the materials are different for each one. They also have varying firing cycles. Porcelain for instance is fired much higher than bone china. Porcelain figurines are hand painted and fired many times."
Of course dinnerware is not the only line of products that feature Lenox china. There are also several holiday ornaments, figurines, picture frames, vases, treasure boxes, bowls, salt and pepper shakers and party favors for weddings that were made from the same quality materials. Many of these items can be personalized to add a special touch to a keepsake or gift.
