As I pack up the boxes of Christmas decorations for their return to hibernation in the attic, I knew immediately what my next piece on Disney Stuff would be…our collection of Lenox Disney. The interesting and really nice thing about all of these pieces is we haven't actually bought many of them. Of course, that doesn't mean that I've resorted to stealing to fill my shelves with more Disney collectibles. Rather, these fine Lenox pieces have been the gift of choice from various people in our lives for some years now. We never set out to collect Lenox. We're certainly not complaining. I mean they're not fruitcakes or bad ties or anything like that. As any gift shop owner will tell you, Lenox is a popular gift choice and has been for decades.
Walter Scott Lenox began his search for the perfect American-made porcelain in 1889 with the opening of the Ceramic Art Studio. Much like another Walter we are all enamored with, Lenox began his business as an art studio and not a factory. Rather than assembly line ceramics, Walter focused on fine works of art. Indeed, the quote attributed to the company's founder on their website: “It is my will and desire that Lenox, Incorporated shall at all times manufacture the highest possible grades of porcelain, that the standard of excellence already attained shall ever be advanced…” reminds me of something that the old Mousetro, Walt Disney, would say. A focus on artistic integrity and one-of-a-kind craftsmanship would be the hallmark of early Lenox creations. Within 10 years of the company's inception, his work was included in the Smithsonian Institution. With the election of President Wilson in 1918, Lenox became the first American made china to be the official White House state service. FDR, Truman, Reagan, and the Clintons have all ordered Lenox service for their tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Lenox began Lenox Collections in 1981 and began to offer statues and sculptures, entering a new era of collectability for their products. Soon, Lenox began to capitalize on America's love of their favorite animated stars and has since had successful business relationships with Disney, Warner Brothers, Peanuts, and others. Eventually, Lenox joined up with the widely popular Christmas village company, Department 56.
Lenox Disney pieces are ever popular, widely available, and spread across many different lines of Disney characters. The “Fab Five” are widely represented, as is the omnipresent Winnie the Pooh. Most of the Disney Princesses have been cast in porcelain and a certain feisty pixie is very popular. Lenox has immortalized many other favorites like Bambi, Jiminy Cricket and Lady and the Tramp. Unlike the Disney Classics Collection, Lenox pieces are not usually copies of specific scenes from Disney films; rather they are more generic poses or struck into a created environment. While many full color pieces are available, as well as crystal, it's the classic creamy white porcelain that most people identify with Lenox, and thus far is the only type of Lenox pieces we have accumulated.
My wife is a big Tinker Bell fan. (They have similar personalities, and I do mean that as a compliment.) A friend of hers has given her a new pixie each year for Christmas, making for a nice collection of Tinks.
A varied collection of Tinker Bells. Photo By Chris Barry.
People know I'm a Mickey Mouse fan, so obviously several versions of the mouse have come my way, including my old favorite, Sorcerer Mickey…
“Mickey's Magic Moment.” Photo By Chris Barry.
…and my new favorite, “Mickey Soaring with Dumbo.”
The newest Lenox in our collection. Photo By Chris Barry.
Another big seller and a favorite ornament of ours is “A Ride With Minnie.”
A classic Minnie in a classic ride. Photo By Chris Barry.
Christmas ornaments are a big part of Lenox's line, and we have several great ones each year on our tree and on our shelves:
More of our favorite ornaments. Photo By Chris Barry.
… and these classics, “Merry Christmas Minnie” and “Holiday Mickey” from 2003.
The 2003 Mickey and Minnie ornaments. Photo By Chris Barry.
As much as I love the classic characters, I enjoy when Lenox goes off the beaten path a little. As luck would have it, we have three kids and Lenox produced this great “Dalmatian Trio” set, which I just had to get for my wife on Mother's Day.
Three out of 101 was just the perfect amount for my wife. Photo By Chris Barry.
Perhaps my favorite in our whole collection though is a great piece entitled “Dewdrop Mouse.” My daughter bought the piece at Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2006, making it the only Lenox we ever purchased or received from a Disney park. What I love most about the sculpture is that Lenox went outside the box and left the major character out of this piece (Bambi,in this case), and focused on one of those little details that make a film like Bambi such a work of art. I was so proud of her that she chose this one, especially among the more obvious choices (We're raising her right, I think.) I'd like to see more of these types of pieces from Lenox in the future.
My favorite Lenox piece of all. Photo By Chris Barry.
The great part about collecting Lenox Disney pieces is the wide range of price points. Several of the ornaments I have can be aquired for between $25 and $40. Mickey on Dumbo is currently only $12.95 on the official Lenox site! Obviously, as the size of the piece increases, so does the price. The larger Tinker Bell pieces run around $95. There are larger sets available upwards of $250 as well. No matter the price, the quality seems to remain the same throughout the line. With such a vast price range, a Lenox piece can truly be the perfect gift for your favorite Disney fan for a small occasion or a really special event. Older pieces are readily available on eBay and other Internet retailers.
Recently there has been much in the news about Lenox filing for bankruptcy. MousePlanet's own Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, owner of two retail businesses specializing in Disney collectibles, MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe, had this to say:
“I think people are more concerned about this than they should be. This is a Chapter 11 reorganization, not a Chapter 7. The communication to retailers is that the company is continuing with their core product lines—Village, Snowbabies and Lenox Classics.” “It seems that some retailers, including employees at the (closing) Department 56 store in Downtown Disney, are telling collectors that both Lenox and D56 are going out of business entirely. We've seen a sudden spike in inquiries from customers who are looking to complete their collections because they think they won't have another chance. We're trying to put them at ease, and sharing with them some of the new introductions both companies have planned. D56 has 36 pages of new Village product for 2009 on their retailer Web site, including new Disney pieces. Lenox has at least 15 new Disney pieces for 2009, including expansions of the Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins series.”
So, it seems in these tough financial times, the Lenox Company needs a little help to keep Walter Scott Lenox's dream alive. As the only American porcelain company to reach their centennial, I certainly hope they are able to restructure and keep Walter's passion for his art form alive in the same way we keep our “own” Walt's dream alive, and that Lenox continues to keep the distinction of their tagline “Gifts That Celebrate Life.”
Keep your comments coming and I'll see you next month with even more of our favorite Disney Stuff.
