When we talk about the historical importance and collectible value of White House China, we are usually speaking of the dinnerware used for formal state occasions. That is Official White House China. Many American Presidents have chosen a new design for their Official White House China, leaving the service behind as part of their Executive Mansion legacy.

Nancy Reagan loved the color red. And, as First Lady, she wanted to make a statement with her Official White House China. So it’s no surprise that the design she helped create for the Reagan administration’s official state dinners featured a bold, scarlet border on an ivory ground, along with gold accents and a raised gold depiction of the Presidential arms in the center of each plate. This dinnerware coordinated beautifully with the State Dining Room’s white walls and gilded accessories.

STUNNING STATE DINNER PLATE WITH BOLD SCARLETT RED BAND FROM THE REAGAN OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA COLLECTION - PART OF THE RALEIGH DeGEER AMYX COLLECTION
SEE MORE WHITE HOUSE CHINA COLLECTIONS HERE

Although the design is undeniably elegant, no other Official White House China has been quite this “brash” in color. The 4,732-piece dinner service for 220 people was manufactured by the famous American company, Lenox, at a cost of cost $210,399 – paid for from donations solicited by Mrs. Reagan.

But Official White House China is normally not used for everyday purposes. So what did President Ronald Reagan and his First Lady use for other types of gatherings – or perhaps for the rare occasion when they were able to dine alone? A lovely but far more sedate design produced by Fitz and Floyd. Acquired in 1983, this unofficial White House China features a wide cobalt blue band, with the presidential seal at the top of each plate. There is a narrow gold rim and a gold band with dots just inside the blue border. In fact, the design of this china service is actually a modified version of Fitz and Floyd’s “Starburst” pattern.

In December of 1983, the New York Times announced, “The White House has accepted a gift of 215 place settings of gold-rimmed china, worth at least $23,650, for use in an aides' dining room, on Air Force One and at Camp David.” This unofficial china was also used when President Reagan and Vice President Bush met for their private weekly luncheons. Robert Floyd, president of Fitz and Floyd, offered to donate the china service when he learned the White House was in need of everyday dishes.

SAMPLE VERSO MARKING FROM THE REAGAN UNOFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA COLLECTION AS PICTURED ABOVE AND BELOW - WHITE HOUSE SERVICE BY ROBERT C. FLOYD, FITZ AND FLOYD, INC. FINE CHINA 1983

Floyd received a thank-you letter from President Reagan, in which the President wrote, “Let me express my sincere gratitude for the magnificent crested china to be used in the White House, at Camp David, and aboard Air Force One. The workmanship is outstanding, and I deeply appreciate the time and skill you and your staff devoted to crafting these fine pieces of china. Your gift will be a welcome addition to the White House and will always serve as a special reminder of our friendship.”

RONALD REAGAN - IMPOSING 12-INCH SERVICE PLATE AS MANUFACTURED BY FITZ & FLOYD IN 1983 - PART OF THE RALEIGH DeGEER AMYX COLLECTION

In addition to the obvious design differences, these two china collections can be distinguished by their very different verso markings. The official service is marked in simple block print: Lenox, Made in USA, THE WHITE HOUSE 1981. The unofficial service is marked in script: White House Service by Robert C. Floyd, Fitz and Floyd, Inc., Fine China, 1983.

World renowned collector Raleigh DeGeer Amyx has acquired a remarkable number of scarce or rare pieces of official White House China. Mr. Amyx’s passion for American historical artifacts has been his sole focus for more than 35 years. Mr. Amyx's collection is the largest privately-owned collection of extremely high-quality, as well as the rarest, Official White House China and Presidential China in the world. If you would like to engage in a discussion with Mr. Amyx about White House China, please contact him through the button below.

Interesting man, Ronald Reagan. Considered one of America’s most personable presidents, Reagan is perhaps best-remembered for his fiscal and social policies. And, of course, for his acting career. But there are details about our 40th president most living Americans never knew – or at least don’t recall today.

It was as an actor that Reagan “starred” in his first presidential role. He served on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild for several years, beginning in 1941, and was elected SAG president in 1947. He remained in that position until 1952 and was elected for a reprise engagement in 1959. During those years, he helped guide the Guild as the organization grappled with multiple labor and management disputes.

BOLD SERVICE PLATE FROM THE REAGAN OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA COLLECTION FEATURES NANCY REAGAN'S FAVORITE COLOR: RED - MANUFACTURED BY LENOX- PART OF THE RALEIGH DeGEER AMYX COLLECTION.
SEE MORE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA HERE.

When Ronald Reagan first took his seat on the SAG Board, he was actually in the military, having been commissioned into the Army Enlisted Reserve as a second lieutenant in 1937. But he was still working as an actor. However, that ended when he was called up for active duty in April of 1942. Poor eyesight kept him from the front lines in Europe, but the Army put his Hollywood skills to use instead. As part of the First Motion Picture Unit based in Culver City, California, he worked on more than 400 Army Air Force training films. He went back to acting when he mustered out in 1945.

These days, Ronald Reagan is held up as the quintessential icon of the Republican Party. But he wasn’t always a Republican. In fact, in his early days as a Democrat he actively supported Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal policies. But his true beliefs caught up with him after the War. As he put it, he didn’t leave the Democratic Party so much as it left him. He planned to formalize his party switch in 1960 but Republican leaders convinced him to wait, so he could campaign as a “Democrat for Nixon.”

FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF FOUR U.S. PRESIDENTS (REAGAN, FORD, CARTER, NIXON) TOGETHER IN THE WHITE HOUSE - OCT 8, 1981 - PART OF THE RALEIGH DeGEER AMYX COLLECTION

As a prominent representative of the motion picture industry – both as SAG President and as a popular actor – Reagan served as an informant for the FBI, helping them ferret out avowed or alleged Communists within the film community. The names of those he fingered have reportedly been redacted from Reagan’s official FBI file.

Because Reagan was so useful, J. Edgar Hoover himself tried to give his early political career a boost. Realizing that Reagan’s adopted son Michael had unwittingly become friends with the son of a known mobster, Hoover tipped off Reagan so he could privately warn his son. This happened not long before he announced his intention to run for Governor of California, enabling Reagan to campaign without the potential taint of mob affiliation.

RONALD AND NANCY REAGAN

In today’s news, the process of Supreme Court nominations is a hot topic. While Reagan was President, he nominated no less than five prospective Supreme Court Justice. Robert Bork and Ruth Ginsburg were not confirmed, but three Reagan nominees did become members of the nation’s highest court – Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Sandra Day O’Connor, our first woman Justice.

On a very different note, Ronald Reagan had a lesser-known side as a “softie.” When citizens would write to him as President and reveal their financial problems, he often would respond by sending personal checks for several thousand dollars to help them out. He even used his Commander-in-Chief status to order Air Force jets into service to transport children who needed kidney surgery.

While he was in office, Reagan was once asked how an actor could be president. His response? “How can a president not be an actor?”

World renowned collector Raleigh DeGeer Amyx has acquired a remarkable number of scarce or rare pieces of official White House China. Mr. Amyx’s passion for American historical artifacts has been his sole focus for more than 35 years. Mr. Amyx's collection is the largest privately-owned collection of extremely high-quality, as well as the rarest, Official White House China and Presidential China in the world. If you would like to engage in a discussion with Mr. Amyx about White House China, please contact him through the button below.

One of the most popular modern era presidents was the late President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004). Although his life had humble beginnings, Reagan began to shine early on. In high school he was an accomplished athlete, student body president, and starred in school plays. Reagan also worked as a lifeguard during the summers.

A STRIKING YOUNG RONALD REAGAN EARNING EXTRA MONEY & SAVING LIVES DURING SUMMERS

Reagan continued his personal successes at Eureka College, in Illinois, playing football, running track and as captain of the swim team. He demonstrated his natural leadership as student council president and pursued his love for acting in college productions. Reagan's first job, after college graduation, was at a radio station as a sports announcer.

AT EUREKA COLLEGE - A YOUTHFUL RONALD REAGAN
NEARLY READY TO FACE THE WORLD

After experiencing some success as an actor in Hollywood, Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California for two terms from 1967 to 1975. With his eyes on the presidency, Reagan tried but was unsuccessful in capturing the Republican nomination in 1968 and 1976. But his persistence paid off when Ronald Reagan was elected the fortieth US President in 1980.

RONALD REAGAN - SO OFTEN GENTLEMANLY & CONGENIAL

The greatest proof of Reagan's popularity lies in the results of his re-election campaign. In November 1984, the President captured 49 of 50 states' electoral votes.

The Reagan administration is remembered for cutting taxes, increasing defense spending, and negotiating Soviet nuclear arms reduction, which brought an end to the Cold War. Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981, but succumbed to the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease in 2004.

RONALD REAGAN -  A PRINCIPLED & GIFTED LEADER

Ronald Reagan was the only U.S. president that had been divorced. He was first married to Jane Wyman, mother of Maureen and their adopted son Michael. Their marriage lasted a mere eight years.

Reagan met Nancy Davis through his leadership position at the Actor's Guild.  In 1952 Ronald and Nancy married and together they had two children, Ronald and Patricia.

THE RONALD AND NANCY REAGAN FAMILY
AT THE WHITE HOUSE - JANUARY 2O, 1981
  TO INCLUDE THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS

Maureen Reagan (1941-2001) tried her hand at politics like her father but was unsuccessful. She also shared her father’s love for the stage, appearing in films and on television. Maureen Reagan became an active supporter of the Alzheimer's Association following her father’s diagnosis. Sadly Maureen Reagan died of melanoma in 2001.

Michael Reagan  (1945-) had a successful nationally-syndicated radio talk show for many years. Michael was an accomplished athlete and he shared Reagan’s taste for conservative politics.

Patricia Reagan Davis (1952-) did not agree with the views of her parents. Early on she voiced her liberal viewpoints and participated in many activities that no-doubt embarrassed and  troubled her parents. Patricia returned to her mother’s side and supported her when Reagan’s health was deteriorating.

Ronald (1958-) grew up in the midst of Reagan’s California governorship. Like his brother Michael, Ron enjoyed a successful career as a radio talk show host, but with an outspoken liberal point-of-view. Ron Reagan continues to make appearances on popular shows such as Chris Matthews show on CNN.

A HANDSOME PRESIDENTIAL COUPLE - THEY WERE A DEVOTED TEAM ALWAYS

Although the Reagans were considered to be more elegant than the laid back Carters before them, President Reagan would often be filmed or photographed at work at his ranch or at ease on his horse during vacations.  At the opening of "The American Cowboy" exhibit at the Library of Congress in 1983, Reagan said:

“. . . The difference between right and wrong seems as clear as the white hats that the cowboys in Hollywood pictures always wore so you'd know right from the beginning who was the good guy. Integrity, morality, and democratic values are the resounding themes…”

ONE OF RONALD REAGAN'S MANY COWBOY ROLES

The other side of this Hollywood cowboy is apparent in the elegant touch he and Mrs. Reagan added to the White House. Of all the former Official White House China selections,  the Presidential China designed for the Reagan White House, in 1982 is the most elegant. Mrs. Reagan spent hours of her time working out the details of how her signature scarlet red, heavily accented with a cross-pattern of gold, would be incorporated. The color was especially striking in the newly designed state dining room.  The gold wide  and the intricate details of the eagle crest were also of  the First Ladies choosing.

THE STUNNING REAGAN 1982 WHITE HOUSE CHINA - FROM THE COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX

Examples of Ronald Reagan White House China, as well as other Presidential pieces of china may be available, directly from Raleigh DeGeer Amyx. Availability is normally determined by Mr. Amyx having in excess of two or three different examples of various styles of Presidential pieces. Example: If there are four different pieces of the exact same President, style and diameter, then one may be available for sale or trade. Also, Mr. Amyx is actively purchasing Presidential pieces just as often as he possibly can.

RALEIGH DeGEER AMYX - HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR

One of the world's finest collections of Official White House China, that graces the Formal State Dinners of our American First Families has finally been located.  The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection, also known as The American Heritage Collection, has one of the Top-Two quality collections of Official White House State Dinner China outside the White House. Included in the collection are well over 100 Official pieces from the Administration's of many of our American Presidents, although the majority did not order any in the first place.

A SELECTION OF OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA AS DISPLAYED IN THE COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX

These Presidents include, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Harrison, Harry S Truman, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D Eisenhower, Ulysses S Grant, James K Polk, Andrew Jackson, Rutherford B Hayes, Woodrow Wilson, James Buchanan, Franklin Pierce, Lyndon B.  Johnson, Jimmy Carter, James Monroe, U.S.S. Williamsburg Service Plates and Air Force One Official Presidential (forward-cabin) China.

ADDITIONAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX 

Official White House State Dinner China is considered to be a Rare collectible, as it is nearly impossible to obtain in authentic format.  However, in earlier White House days, Presidents such as Chester Arthur, would hold an auction on the White House lawn (hard for us to comprehend such an over the top act today) for items that were no longer in use, or met with President Chester Arthur's standards. Today, public auctions for White House furnishings? No way!  In the early 1890's, First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison, an accomplished painter of China herself, started preserving and inventorying the present Collection of White House China, which is now in use or on display at The White House.

ANOTHER CASE OF OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA FOR YOU TO PERUSE - FROM THE COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX

Occasionally, Raleigh DeGeer Amyx sells a select few pieces of extra Official White House China -- Or perhaps a trade might ensue.  However, he is always in a serious mind frame, as he searches intensely for new historic additions to add to his prominent collection.

RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX - HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - TO INCLUDE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA THAT CAN BE VIEWED ABOVE AS WELL BELOW THIS IMAGE

THE ELEGANT WHITE HOUSE CHINA OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - THIS DINNER PLATE IS IN THE RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX COLLECTION.

THE MAJESTY OF THE WHITE HOUSE CHINA OF JAMES MONROE - HIS DESSERT PLATE - FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CHINA COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX

THE SUPREME ELEGANCE OF THE RONALD REAGAN SERVICE PLATE - AN EXAMPLE FROM THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHINA COLLECTION OF RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX

FOR FURTHER EXAMPLES SEE THE RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX COLLECTION AND ALSO BE CERTAIN TO PERUSE THIS MARVELOUS BOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF A GENTLEMAN, BUT RECENTLY DECEASED, ROBERT L. McNEIL