How to Sell Your White House China

To auction, sell or consign your White House china plate, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

Why Is White House China So Valuable?

White House china is among the most popular presidential memorabilia. The striking sets provide a peek into the preferences of past first ladies as well as trends of the various eras. The White House China room, created by First Lady Edith Wilson, is devoted to displaying of all the china sets from previous administrations. We’ve sold some very special and scarce White House china pieces at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.

Here Are Some White House China Plates We’ve Sold:

Thomas Jefferson Soup Plate — Sold for $26,121

We realized $26,121 for a plate from the Thomas Jefferson administration. Plate is crafted from white Chinese porcelain has has painted blue and gilt accents. Center of plate has a knight’s head with a shield that bears a gilt ”J”. Plate measures 9.5” in diameter, and is near fine.

Thomas Jefferson Plate — Sold for $18,750

China from the Thomas Jefferson administration is very scarce due to the White House destruction during the War of 1812 and heirs selling his personal belongings after his passing to pay debts. We sold a rare Thomas Jefferson china plate for $18,750. Plate measures 6.125” in diameter and has blue and gilt accents with a knight and shield at center.

Abraham Lincoln “Buff Set” Plate — Sold for $8,711

The Abraham Lincoln administration had several sets of china. One was called the “solferino” set ordered in 1861, and another more casual design named the “Buff Set” was ordered in 1865 for everyday occasions at the White House. A third set of china adorned with a pink border was delivered to Mrs. Lincoln right before leaving the White House. We sold a plate from the “Buff Set” for for $8,711. Plate is made by ”J.K. Kerr” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and features a buff colored border and gilt circular edge and gilt circle at center.

Harry Truman Dinner Plate — Sold for $6,995

The Truman administration ordered a new china set following the White House renovation that took place between 1948–1952. They wanted china that matched the new wall color of the State Dining Room, and Lenox made a set consisting of celadon green and 24 karat gold in the outermost band. In 1945 President Truman modified the Presidential Seal to have the eagle face the olive branch, representing peace, rather than facing the arrows that represent war. This change is reflected in their china set. We sold a large Harry Truman White House china dinner plate, measuring 11.375 inches in diameter, for $6,995.

Woodrow Wilson Plate — Sold for $5,236

The china from the Woodrow Wilson administration was the first to be produced in the United States as previous sets were mostly manufactured in France. We sold a Woodrow Wilson White House china plate measuring 11.75 inches for $5,236. Lenox plate features a navy blue band with a circular gilt border on both sides. Center of plate contains the Presidential Seal. This classic design would later inspire the White House china selected by First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Dinner Plate — Sold for $4,875

We realized $4,875 for a White House china plate from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Plate is part of the “exhibit collection” by Lenox and was purchased by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to support American companies during the Great Depression. Cream colored plate has the Great Seal of the U.S. along rim and a navy trim decorated with 48 stars, to represent each state. Plate measures 11.5 inches in diameter.

Ronald Reagan Dinner Plate — Sold for $4,431

Beautiful Lenox china service plate made for the Reagan White House, in ”Reagan red” and gold, with an elegant cross-hatch design, the more formal style of china specifically used for state dinners, introduced on 3 February 1982. Plate features the Presidential seal in gilt at center, with Lenox mark on underside reading, ”For Lenox China, Inc. / Lenox / Made In U.S.A. / The White House / 1981”. Plate measures 11.625” in diameter. Near fine condition. Sold for $4,431.

George W. Bush Service Plate — Sold for $3,845

Stunning china service plate from the George W. Bush White House, produced by Lenox. Banded in gold against a green crosshatch pattern, the design features an Eagle at center, surrounded by thirteen gold stars. In designing this china, the Bushes were inspired by a White House sideboard once belonging to Daniel Webster, which had an eagle-designed inlay. Service plate measures 11.875” in diameter, with underside reading ”The White House / 2008 / Lenox”. Near fine condition. Sold for $3,845.

Harry S. Truman China Cup & Saucer — Sold for $3,750

Cup and saucer in the Harry Truman White House pattern, part of the special Exhibit edition used when presidential china is put on display. The Truman pattern was used in the White House from Truman’s administration through the administrations of Eisenhower and Kennedy. Cup and saucer in cream color porcelain feature a border of sage green with embossed gilt bands, gilt rim and gilt handle, with a gilt presidential seal on the cup at 6 o’clock and on the saucer at 12 o’clock. The Lenox White House Exhibit Collection maker’s mark is present to the undersides and dated 1951. Cup measures just over 2” in height and 4” in diameter at the mouth. Saucer measures just over 6” in diameter. From the Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection. Sold for $3,750.

Bill Clinton Dinner Plate — Sold for $3,495

Lenox china dinner plate made for the Bill Clinton White House to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the White House in 2000. Elegant dinner plate features a double gold band bracketing a pale yellow and raised white design, with the north front of the White House at top. This 200th anniversary collection is also the only time depictions of the White House were used in the design of White House china. Plate reads on the underside, ”The White House / 200th Anniversary / 1800-2000 / Lenox”. Sold for $3,495.

Ulysses S. Grant China Bowl — Sold for $2,500

Very scarce White House china bowl from the Ulysses S. Grant administration. President Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant ordered this set of china in 1869, made by Haviland and Co. and hand-painted by Limoges, featuring 24 different flowers, all with the gilt Coat of Arms at top center. Embellishments include gilt rimming around a decorative yellow band. Large, shallow soup bowl measures 9.375″ in diameter and 1.75″ high, ideal for display. Minute wear, overall near fine condition. Sold for $2,500.

Benjamin Harrison Breakfast Plate — Sold for $2,500

Beautiful White House breakfast plate from the Benjamin Harrison administration, featuring the goldenrod design against a navy blue background, and 44 gilt stars encircling the Eagle with wings outstretched. When Jacqueline Kennedy redecorated the White House, she featured several pieces of this china – a favorite of collectors, in the Family Dining Room. Scalloped edge plate measures 8.675” in diameter. The mark on the reverse reads ”HARRISON 1892” with stamps by Limoges France as well as T.V. of France (Tressemannes & Vogt), and M.W. Beveridge, as required. Minor rubbing to inner gilt band, overall in near fine condition. Sold for $2,500.

Dwight Eisenhower Service Plate — Sold for $2,100

Brilliant gold-covered service plate used in the Eisenhower White House. Plate is one of only 120 service plates commissioned by Eisenhower, the only porcelain ordered for the White House by his administration, as the Truman service had been ordered the year before Eisenhower took office and remained in use throughout his two terms. Underside of plate bears the maker’s stamp in gold and black, “Castleton Studios / The White House / November 1955 / Made in USA”. Even the rim on the underside is coated in gold. Measures 11.5″ in diameter. Sold for $2,100.

Jimmy Carter Dinner Plate — Sold for $1,750

Beautiful Lenox china dinner plate made for the Carter White House, with an emerald-jade color known as “Carter green” accenting an ivory center and three bands of gold, the widest outer band made of raised stars. The Presidential seal in gilt at 12:00 completes the style, which was ordered specifically for formal state dinners, but which arrived too late in 1980 to be used in the Executive Mansion, and is instead displayed at the Carter Presidential Library; the service is particularly rare as a result. Plate is marked on the underside, “President Jimmy Carter / 1980 / Lenox”. Plate measures 10.5″ in diameter. Near fine condition. Sold for $1,750.

Thanks for checking out some of our White House china sales! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to sell your White House china.

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my White House china?
It’s never been easier to sell your White House china at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and images of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free estimate.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.

What factors determine the value of a White House china plate?
The value of your china can vary based on condition, presidential administration and rarity.