America's Second largest Collection of Official White House China has been, at last, located.  It consists of well over 100 Official White House State Dinner China pieces.  At this moment, we will cover one of the most desired, as well as Rare pieces.  Specifically, let us take a close look at the Magnificent State Dinner Dessert Plate, as chosen for The White House, by U.S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant.

STUNNING GLIMPSE OF THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA 9.25" DESSERT PLATE OF PRESIDENT U.S. GRANT 

Featured above and below is a 9 1/4 inch Official State Dinner, Dessert Plate – by a French manufacturer; but made by Haviland and Company. This Limoges hand-painted rendering, by a Gifted Artist, features a beautiful blooming Hosta. There were a total of 24 different American flowers authorized for use on the elegant service of U.S. Grant.

A VIVID LOOK AT THE "COAT OF ARMS" AS SELECTED FOR USE BY THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY - JULIA DENT GRANT 

When President and Mrs. Grant moved into the Executive Mansion in March 1869, Mrs. Grant began, at once, to renovate to her own taste.  The First Lady's very first purchases, for The White House, commenced almost immediately and she continued to buy numerous historical items over the next six months.

A BREATH-TAKING CLOSE-UP OF THE BLOOMING HOSTA ON THIS U.S. GRANT DESSERT PLATE

In June 1869, Julia Dent Grant was on full steam ahead to order Official White House China – her very own State Dinner service.  She does so through a Washington DC dealer, J.W. Butler and Brothers, located just 12 blocks down the same street - right on Pennsylvania Avenue.  They had been supplying miscellaneous China to The Executive Mansion for several years and they ordered the Grant China from Haviland and Company. Perhaps they did so because Haviland had been winning prizes in World Exhibitions; especially the Great Exhibition, held in London, England in 1851.

PRESIDENT U.S. GRANT & JULIA DENT GRANT RELAXING TOGETHER

When the State Dinner China finally arrived, it consisted of only 587 total pieces - with Flowers and a top center Logo – known then as the Official "Coat of Arms".  According to The White House Curator, William Allman, the above piece, now in the Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection (also known as The American Heritage Collection), is as fine as any example of Ulysses S. Grant's Official White House China that he had ever seen.  This procurement, according to Mr. Amyx, involved major assistance on the part of Historian and Author, Bob Doares. Dr. Doares played a significant role in the acquisition of this Rare Example, which he shared with Raleigh DeGeer Amyx. Although over 100 other Official White House China pieces encompass The Collection of Mr. Amyx, the Grant selection is one of his very favorites.

HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX - 2010

Shown below is the Elegant Silverware/Flatware of President U.S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant.  Note the Eagle Seal to the left embossed "U.S. Grant: President of the United States", as well as an exquisite handle which graced The Formal Table of The Grants.

ELEGANT MONOGRAMMED SILVERWARE OF PRESIDENT GRANT