White Limoges porcelain, with hand-painted enamel and gilt decoration tureen and cover; 6 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. (171 x 620 mm); with six pots de crème and covers, height 3 3/4 in. (95 mm). Some rubbing; very minor scratches.

By 1864, the French Solferino pattern set of china Mary Lincoln purchased for the White House in 1861 was almost completely lost. During Willie Lincoln's funeral in 1862, with the grief-stricken First Lady confined to her bedroom, pieces of china were taken away as souvenirs. In late 1864, Mary Lincoln decided to order a new set of china for the family's own use, this time through the Philadelphia company China Hall, run by importers Joseph and James K. Kerr. The design of this service differed from that of the original set, with this one boasting a plain white background with buff borders and edged and initialed in gilt. The china was delivered to the White House on 13 February 1865.

Shortly after President Lincoln's assassination Mary Lincoln again wrote to Kerr from her new home in Chicago, and requested a third set of china, this set. This time she requested an old English "L" be lettered onto each piece. The overall design is similar to that of the second aforementioned set of china ordered by Mrs. Lincoln shortly before her husband's death, which was bordered in pink and featured a Greek motif in gilt. The present design appears to represent a blend of the first and second designs. She acknowledged receipt of this service on 12 October 1865.

Provenance:

Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California
Exhibition:

The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham
Lincoln and the Promise of America, at the Huntington Library, October 1993-August 1994