page_title: China service of the Lincoln administration
section_title: The third (pink) Lincoln china set
hierarchical_section_title: China service of the Lincoln administration / The third (pink) Lincoln china set
caption_attribution_description: English: Dinner plate which was part of a porcelain china dining set by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln in 1861. Although owned by the First Family, it was never used in the White House in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Mrs. Lincoln had ordered a very expensive, exquisitely decorated "Solfering" (purple)-bordered china service in April 1865. Heavily damaged, with many pieces stolen, it was replaced with a much less expensive, plainer china service in late 1864 which had a simple buff band around the border. In early 1865, Mrs. Lincoln ordered yet a third set of china. Records regarding this set are minimal, and it is unclear if it was purchased or was a gift from the manufacturer. The set was clearly ordered by Mrs. Lincoln before May 26, 1865, but did not arrive until after July 26, 1865 (once she had left Washington, D.C., and settled at the Hyde Park Hotel in Hyde Park, Illinois). The "pink set" was provided by China Hall, an establishment run by James K. Kerr of Philadelphia. The china has a pink border. Inside the border is a gold Greek fret motif, and a gold monogram capital letter "L" is centered in the plates and saucers. Kerr most likely decorated the piece, or at least provided the gilding and monogram. Although the manufacturer is unclear, the set was probably made in France.
context_page_description: The china service of the Lincoln administration generally refers to a set of purple-banded china dishes used for serving and eating food at the White House, home of the President of the United States. Also known as the Lincoln solferino china service, it was purchased in April 1861 by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. The porcelain was manufactured by Haviland & Co. in France, and some of the decoration of the china was made overseas. Additional decoration was made by the American firm of E. V. Haughwout & Co., which sold the china to Mrs. Lincoln.
  Much of the china was broken or too chipped to be used by the end of the first Lincoln administration in 1864. A second set of much plainer buff china was used in the second Lincoln administration. Mrs. Lincoln ordered or was given a third set of china with a pink border shortly before leaving the White House, and it was delivered to her private home.
  The administration of Andrew Johnson ordered a second set of "Lincoln solferino china" in 1865, but some of this set did not survive Johnson's term in office. The administrations of Ulysses S. Grant, Chester Arthur, and Grover Cleveland also purchased replacement pieces.
context_section_description: In early 1865, Mrs. Lincoln ordered yet a third set of china. Records regarding this set are minimal, and it is unclear if it was purchased or was a gift from the manufacturer. The set was clearly ordered by Mrs. Lincoln before May 26, 1865, but did not arrive until after July 26, 1865 (once she had left Washington, D.C., and settled at the Hyde Park Hotel in Hyde Park, Illinois).
  The "pink set" was provided by James K. Kerr of Philadelphia. The china has a pink border. Inside the border is a gold Greek fret motif, and a gold monogram capital letter "L" is centered in the plates and saucers. Kerr most likely decorated the piece, or at least provided the gilding and monogram.
caption: The third, "pink" Lincoln china service, which arrived after President Lincoln's death and which was never used in the White House
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