page_title: White House china
section_title: Polk service
hierarchical_section_title: White House china / White House china services / Polk service
caption_attribution_description: James K. Polk White House china
context_page_description: The White House china refers to the various patterns of china used for serving and eating food in the White House, home of the president of the United States. Different china services have been ordered and used by different presidential administrations. The White House collection of china is housed in the White House China Room. Not every administration created its own service, but portions of all china services created for the White House are now in the China Room collection. Some of the older china services are used for small private dinners in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor.
context_section_description: The White House needed a new china service by the time the Polks took up residence in 1845. The same company which produced the Monroe china service, Dagoty-Honoré of Paris, made their state dinner service. The dinner and dessert services were ordered in 1846; 400 pieces cost US$979.40. The service included a plain white design and gold trim, which made it a popular service with later administrations. The simplicity of the china made it well suited to mix with other depleted services when the occasion arose. The dessert service, rather than being plain, features a soft green border and polychrome flowers.
caption: A piece from the Polk dessert service
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