This Rococo-Revival centerpiece is a part of the china service of President Franklin Pierce. The service was created in 1853 by Haughwout & Dailey Co. of New York, New York. The centerpiece was photographed by Bates Littlehales in April 1962.

This Rococo-Revival centerpiece is a part of the china service of President Franklin Pierce. The service was created in 1853 by Haughwout & Dailey Co. of New York, New York. The centerpiece was photographed by Bates Littlehales in April 1962.

This French porcelain dinner plate was part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" state service first purchased for the White House from the New York firm E.V. Haughwout & Co. in 1861. The service was first ordered during President Abraham Lincoln's administration and reordered through the 1880s. The plate features a royal purple border lined with gold dots and a gold cable pattern, as well as a design inspired by the Great Seal of the United States. Bates Littlehales photographed this plate in 1962.

This Rococo-Revival centerpiece is a part of the china service of President Franklin Pierce. The service was created in 1853 by Haughwout & Dailey Co. of New York, New York. The centerpiece was photographed by Bates Littlehales in April 1962.

This French porcelain dinner plate was part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" state service first purchased for the White House from the New York firm E.V. Haughwout & Co. in 1861. The service was first ordered during President Abraham Lincoln's administration and reordered through the 1880s. The plate features a royal purple border lined with gold dots and a gold cable pattern, as well as a design inspired by the Great Seal of the United States. Bates Littlehales photographed this plate in 1962.

This chamberstick was part of a toilet set ordered in 1861. The piece is part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" service first ordered for the White House during the Abraham Lincoln administration, and reordered through the 1880s. On the sides of the cups and the center of the platter is a design inspired by the Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle standing atop a shield and holding arrows and an olive branch.

These serving pieces were ordered for the White House from the New York firm Haughwout & Dailey in 1853, during the Franklin Pierce administration. The compote features the blue and gold design of the Pierce state dinner service. The cut-and-engraved wine bottle and wine glass are both etched with a grape and grapevine pattern.

This French porcelain centerpiece was purchased from the New York City firm of Haughwout & Dailey in 1853 as part of the state service that President Franklin Pierce ordered for the White House. The three figures that support the large bowl are made of Parian ware, a type of bisque porcelain that resembles carved marble. The centerpiece became one of the best known items in the presidential china collection after First Lady Caroline Harrison discovered it in the White House attic in the 1890s.

This French porcelain punch bowl was part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" state service first purchased for the White House from the New York firm E.V. Haughwout & Co. in 1861. The service was first ordered during Abraham Lincoln's administration and reordered through the 1880s. The pattern includes a royal purple border and gold details.

This image shows a detailed view of the Parian or biscuit figures around the base of a centerpiece purchased from the New York City firm of Haughwout & Dailey in 1853. The centerpiece was part of a porcelain service that President Franklin Pierce ordered for the White House.

This French porcelain fruit basket was purchased from the New York City firm of Haughwout & Dailey in 1853 as part of a service that President Franklin Pierce ordered for the White House. The Pierce porcelain features blue and gold scrolls.

These porcelain dessert serving pieces, including an oval fruit basket, a compote, and a round fruit basket, were made in France and decorated by the New York firm E.V. Haughwout & Co. in 1861. The pieces were part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" service first ordered for the White House during the Abraham Lincoln administration, and reordered through the 1880s. The pattern includes a design likely inspired by the Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle standing atop a shield and holding arrows and an olive branch.

These French-made porcelain serving pieces -decorated in New York - are from a state service pattern originally selected by Mary Todd Lincoln. Shown from (left to right) are a footed after dinner coffee cup, custard cup, tea cup and saucer, coffee cup and saucer, and fish platter (rear). The pieces were part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" service first ordered for the White House in 1861, and reordered multiple times throughout the 1880s. The eagle motif that decorates the service was inspired by the Great Seal of the United States.

This water bottle and wine glass was part of a service President Franklin Pierce ordered for the White House from the New York retailer Haughwout & Dailey Co. in 1853. The grape and grapevine pattern is reminiscent of the glassware service that Andrew Jackson selected soon after taking office in 1829.

This French porcelain compote was ordered for the White House in 1853 from the New York firm Haughwout & Dailey. The compote was part of the Franklin Pierce state dinner service, which features blue and gold decorations.

This French porcelain dinner plate was part of the "royal purple" or "Solferino" state service first purchased for the White House from the New York firm E.V. Haughwout & Co. in 1861. The service was first ordered during Abraham Lincoln's administration and reordered through the 1880s. The plate features a royal purple border lined with gold dots and a gold cable pattern, as well as a design inspired by the Great Seal of the United States.

This French porcelain dinner plate was purchased for the White House from the New York City firm of Haughwout & Dailey in 1853, during the Franklin Pierce administration. The Pierce state dinner service featured blue and gold details. An empty blue and gold escutcheon also appears in the center of this plate.