Editing Lenox (company)

{{Short description|American bone china manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
|name             = Lenox Corporation
|logo             = File:Lenox_Logo.png
|type             = [[Privately held company|Private]] 
|foundation       = 1889  <!--modifies "Founded" entry-->
|location_city    = 
|location_country = 
|location         = [[Bristol, Pennsylvania]]  <!--modifies "Headquarters" entry-->
|locations        =   <!--# of locations-->
|parent           = Centre Lane Partners
|key_people       = 
|area_served      = 
|industry         = [[Manufacturing]]
|products         = [[Tableware]] and giftware
|brands           = Dansk, [[Gorham Manufacturing Company|Gorham]], Lenox, [[Oneida Limited|Oneida]], [[Reed & Barton]]
|services         = 
|revenue          = 
|operating_income = 
|net_income       = 
|num_employees    = 
|divisions        =
|subsid           = 
|slogan           = 
|homepage         = {{URL|https://www.lenox.com/}}
|dissolved        = 
|footnotes        = 
|intl             =   <!--Enter ''yes'' to change labels to international instead of US terminology-->
}}

[[Image:Lenox Ming 1929.jpg|thumb|right|Lenox "Ming" fired in 1929 (discontinued)]]
'''Lenox Corporation''' is an American [[manufacturing]] company that sells [[tableware]], giftware, and collectible products under the Lenox, Dansk, [[Reed & Barton]], [[Gorham Manufacturing Company|Gorham]], and [[Oneida Limited|Oneida]] brands. For most of the 20th century, it was the most prestigious American maker of tableware, and the company produced other decorative pieces as well. Several Lenox china services were commissioned for the [[White House]]. By 2020, it was the last significant manufacturer of [[bone china]] in the United States, until the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] forced the closure of the company's only remaining American factory.<ref name="LenoxCompanyHistory">{{cite web|url= http://www.lenox.com/index.cfm?ss=services&cat=about&lp=history|title= Lenox company history|access-date= 2008-11-17}}</ref><ref name="KinstonShutdown">{{cite web|title=Lenox CEO Discusses N.C. Factory Shutdown|last1=Zisko|first1=Allison|url=https://www.hfndigital.com/tabletop-gifts/lenox-permanently-closes-n-c-factory/|publisher=Home Furnishing News|date=2020-04-21|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

==History==
Lenox was founded in 1889 by [[Walter Scott Lenox]] as Lenox's Ceramic Art Company in [[Trenton, New Jersey]].<ref name="LenoxCompanyHistory"/>

As Lenox's products became popular in the early 20th century, the company expanded its production to a factory-style operation, making tableware in standard patterns while still relying on skilled handworking, especially for painting.

[[Image:Lenox black band sugar bowl.jpg|thumb|left|Lenox blank band bone china with floral inlay cir. 1932]]
Two of the first patterns Lenox produced were introduced in 1917, the "Ming" and "Mandarin", which were eventually manufactured for over fifty years. Lenox products also became well known in the United States thanks to Frank Graham Holmes, chief designer from 1905 to 1954, 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. Lenox pieces were the only American porcelain chosen for display in 1928 by the National Museum of Ceramics in [[Sèvres]], France.<ref name="FundingUniverse">{{cite web|url= http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Lenox-Inc-Company-History.html|title= Lenox, Inc.|publisher=Funding Universe|access-date= 2020-07-06}}</ref>

In 1983, Lenox was acquired by [[Brown-Forman Corporation]].<ref name="FundingUniverse"/> Brown-Forman acquired [[Dansk International Designs]] and its [[Gorham Manufacturing Company]] division in 1991, which were incorporated into Lenox. In 2005, Brown-Forman sold Lenox, Incorporated, to collectible manufacturer [[Department 56]] for $190 million.<ref name=Rutgers>{{cite web|last1=D'Onofrio|first1=David A.|title=Inventory to the Lenox, Incorporated, records, 1889-2005: Introduction|url=http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/manuscripts/lenox01f.html|website=Rutgers University|access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>

The Lenox company archives, not purchased by Department 56, were donated to several repositories. China-related archival documents were donated to the [[Rutgers University Libraries]]. The historical china collections were given to the [[Newark Museum]] and the [[New Jersey State Museum]].<ref name=Rutgers />

Lenox Sales, Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008.<ref name=Bankruptcy>{{cite news|last1=Larson|first1=Eric|title=Lenox, Fine China Maker Files Bankruptcy|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aK1wpZLRf5v0|access-date=17 October 2015|agency=Bloomberg}}</ref> On March 16, 2009, Clarion Capital Partners purchased the assets of Lenox and renamed the company Lenox Corporation.<ref name="Clarion news">{{cite web|title=News|url=http://www.clarion-capital.com/news.aspx|website=Clarion Capital Partners|access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref> Lenox continued some manufacture of bone china dinnerware at its plant in [[Kinston, North Carolina]], built in 1989. The {{convert|218000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} plant is situated on {{convert|40|acre|m2}}. Its manufacturing capabilities included enamel dot, etch, color, and microwave metals, and eventually became Lenox's only American factory until its closure in 2020.<ref name="KinstonEnd">{{cite web|title=The beginning and end of Lenox in Kinston|last1=Davis|first1=Brandon|url=https://www.kinston.com/news/20200421/beginning-and-end-of-lenox-in-kinston|publisher=Kinston Free Press|date=2020-04-20|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

In a bankruptcy auction conducted in April 2015, the operating assets of [[Reed & Barton]], a competing maker of flatware, were acquired by Lenox.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/business/lifetime-brands-outbid-for-silversmith-reed-and-barton-1.10350240|title=Lifetime Brands outbid for silversmith Reed & Barton|newspaper=Newsday|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref>

Lenox's brands include Kate Spade New York, Marchesa by Lenox, and Brian Gluckstein by Lenox.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lenox factory closure leaves void in eastern North Carolina |date=20 May 2020 |url=https://nsjonline.com/article/2020/05/lenox-factory-closure-leaves-void-in-eastern-north-carolina/ |access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref> 

Lenox ceased production at the Kinston factory on March 18, 2020, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic; on April 17 the company announced that the closure would become permanent, with production expected to resume overseas.<ref name="KinstonShutdown" /><ref name="KinstonEnd" /><ref name="ClosingAnnounced">{{cite web|title=Lenox closing Kinston plant, cites economic impact due to COVID-19|url=https://www.witn.com/content/news/Lenox-closing-Kinston-plant-due-to-COVID-19-569736081.html|publisher=WITN|date=2020-04-17|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

In July 2020 Lenox announced that they would permanently close all of their outlet and warehouse stores, also citing the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>[https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/mt-pleasant-lenox-outlet-to-close-after-company-cites-struggles-related-to-pandemic Mt. Pleasant Lenox outlet to close after company cites pandemic-related struggles] Megan Tomasic, ''Triblive.com'', July 1, 2020</ref>

In October 2020, Lenox was acquired by [[private equity]] firm Centre Lane Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nicolaus|first=Fred|date=2020-10-19|title=Lenox is acquired by private equity firm|url=https://businessofhome.com/articles/lenox-is-acquired-by-private-equity-firm|access-date=2020-12-14|website=businessofhome.com}}</ref>

In June 2021, Lenox acquired its erstwhile competitor [[Oneida Limited|Oneida]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lenox-corporation-americas-leading-tabletop-giftware-and-home-entertaining-company-announces-acquisition-of-oneida-consumer-llc-301305412.html |title=Lenox Corporation, America's Leading Tabletop, Giftware and Home Entertaining Company, Announces Acquisition of Oneida Consumer LLC |website=PR Newswire |author=Lenox Corporation |author-link=Lenox (company) |date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

==Presidential collection==
{{See also|White House china}}
[[Image:Wilson-343.jpg|thumb|The Wilson service, introduced in 1918, was the first American-made presidential bone china service.]]
[[Image:Reagan-343.jpg|thumb|The Reagan service, introduced in 1982, was modeled on Woodrow Wilson's and selected by [[Nancy Reagan]].]]
Lenox was the first North American bone china to be used in the [[White House]], and the company has since made tableware for six U.S. presidents. They are officially titled:
*The [[Woodrow Wilson|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. This first set of American made tableware of 1,700 pieces from Lenox cost $16,000.<ref name="FundingUniverse"/>
*The [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] Service: Ordered October 1934. It is described as patriotic, bearing a border of 48 gold stars, and the presidential seal in enamel colors on an ivory body.
*The [[Harry Truman|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 [[Ronald Reagan|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 [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] Service: The pattern features a border of pale creamy yellow, and images of the White House facades. Each piece in the place setting is decorated with a different pattern, the motifs derived from architectural elements found in the State Dining Room, East Room, and Diplomatic Reception Room. No presidential seal appears.<ref>[http://www.lenox.com/cs/index.cfm?fuseaction=wh White House Lenox] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226150704/http://www.lenox.com/cs/index.cfm?fuseaction=wh |date=2008-02-26 }}</ref>
*The [[George W. Bush|Bush]] Service: Laura Bush first displayed this newest service on January 7, 2009. The porcelain place setting service features a green basket weave border based on a French dinner service believed to have been owned by James and Dolley Madison. The dessert plates replicate a laurel wreath found on Madison's Parisian c. 1799-1805 dinner plates. The serving plates and the rim of other pieces also feature an eagle emblem inspired by an [[American bald eagle]] inlay found on the center drawer of the Massachusetts [[sideboard]], believed to have been owned by [[Daniel Webster]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Books===
* Klapthor, Margaret Bown. ''White House China: 1789 to the Present.'' The Barra Foundation and Harry N. Abrams: 1999. {{ISBN|0-8109-3993-2}}.

==External links==
*{{official|https://www.lenox.com/}}
*[http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/manuscripts/lenox01f.html Rutgers University – Lenox archive collection]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenox (Company)}}
[[Category:Kitchenware brands]]
[[Category:Porcelain of the United States]]
[[Category:Ceramics manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Trenton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008]]
[[Category:1983 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2005 mergers and acquisitions]]