This sugar bowl was produced in 1795 and presented to First Lady Martha Washington in 1796 by a director of the Dutch East India Company. The bowl was part of a Chinese Export porcelain service and originally had a lid. It was decorated with her initials and a border of chain links representing the 15 states of the Union, the service was used in the Washingtons' Philadelphia residence. As a result of increased sugar production due to growth of sugar plantations fueled by the Atlantic slave trade, sugar bowls became popular pieces of tableware. The Washingtons may have displayed it in public spaces alongside other fine tableware, exhibiting their wealth, worldliness, and patriotism to guests dining at their home.

This sugar bowl was produced in 1795 and presented to First Lady Martha Washington in 1796 by a director of the Dutch East India Company. The bowl was part of a Chinese Export porcelain service and originally had a lid. It was decorated with her initials and a border of chain links representing the 15 states of the Union, the service was used in the Washingtons' Philadelphia residence. As a result of increased sugar production due to growth of sugar plantations fueled by the Atlantic slave trade, sugar bowls became popular pieces of tableware. The Washingtons may have displayed it in public spaces alongside other fine tableware, exhibiting their wealth, worldliness, and patriotism to guests dining at their home.

This sugar bowl was produced in 1795 and presented to First Lady Martha Washington in 1796 by a director of the Dutch East India Company. The bowl was part of a Chinese Export porcelain service and originally had a lid. Decorated with her initials and a border of chain links representing the 15 states of the Union, the service was used in the Washingtons' Philadelphia residence. As a result of increased sugar production due to growth of sugar plantations fueled by the Atlantic slave trade, sugar bowls became popular pieces of tableware. The Washingtons may have displayed it in public spaces alongside other fine tableware, exhibiting their wealth, worldliness, and patriotism to guests dining at their home.

This punch bowl was created by Tiffany and Company in 1874. The punch bowl features an intricate and realistic design of pine needles with eagle's heads and talons around the brim of the bowl. The design of the punch bowl is attributed to James H. Whitehouse and Eugene Soligny is attributed with the modeling and chasing. An "M" stamp at the bottom of the bowl indicates the bowl was made under the leadership of Edward C. Moore during his tenure at Tiffany and Company. This piece was donated to the White House Collection in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration.

This silver sugar bowl, hot water urn, and kettle on a stand were part of a 12-piece service made for President Millard Fillmore and his wife, First Lady Abigail Fillmore, by the renowned New York firm Wood & Hughes. They purchased the service, which is engraved with their names, circa 1858, after Fillmore left office. Mrs. Fillmore used the proceeds from the sale of a horse and carriage in 1850 to purchase the set. The urn was acquired for the White House by the White House Historical Association in 1973.

These French porcelain serving pieces, including a dinner dish, vegetable dish, soup plate, dessert stand, fruit basket, and dessert plate, were made for the White House by Edouard D. Honoré of Paris in 1846. President James K. Polk ordered this pattern for the state service. The pieces feature gilded rims molded in a scroll design and light green details, as well as a version of the shield from the Great Seal of the United States, although this one contains stars in the chief which are not present on the Great Seal or Presidential Seal, and the scroll containing the motto "E Pluribus Unum." The dessert plates also included a large, hand-painted flower.

This silver wine cooler was made by French silversmith Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot between 1798 and 1809. James Monroe, who served as president from 1817 to 1825, owned the wine cooler, and later sold it to the government for use at the White House. The wine cooler is engraved with the words "President's House" and features sculptural elements, a hallmark of Odiot's work.

This photograph of White House curator Lorraine Waxman Pearce was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on September 21, 1961, during the John F. Kennedy. In the photograph, the curator shows a porcelain plate once owned by President John Adams to a visitor in the China Room. The China Room is located on the Ground Floor of the White House and has been used to display ceramics, glass, and other decorative arts since 1916. The pieces on display are a collection of items used in the White House by first families, including state china services commissioned during a presidency.

This silver-plated wine bottle holder was created circa 1904 in Connecticut. The wine bottle holder was used by White House staff to serve guests at dinners hosted by the president and first lady. Suz Redfearn photographed the wine bottle holder on November 19, 2018.

This silver-plated wine bottle holder was created circa 1904 in Connecticut. The wine bottle holder was used by White House staff to serve guests at dinners hosted by the president and first lady. Suz Redfearn photographed the wine bottle holder on November 19, 2018.

This silver-plated wine bottle holder was created circa 1904 in Connecticut. The wine bottle holder was used by White House staff to serve guests at dinners hosted by the president and first lady. Suz Redfearn photographed the wine bottle holder on November 19, 2018.

This glassware was part of the service made for the White House by C. Dorflinger & Sons of White Mill, Pennsylvania in 1891, when President Benjamin Harrison held office. President Harrison ordered the service to replace the Lincoln glassware, selecting an ornate, newly fashionable design known as the Russian pattern. The pieces shown here include a goblet, a water bottle, an Apollinaris tumbler, an ice cream plate, a finger bowl, and a brandy-and-soda tumbler.

This is a tea box lined with French woodblock wallpaper. The box is believed to have been made in China circa 1811 while the wallpaper lining it is believed to be one of the only surviving artifacts from the pre-1814 President's House. First Lady Dolley Madison reportedly gave the wallpaper as a gift to Mary Latrobe, her friend and wife of architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The inscription written on the wallpaper reads: "Paper upon the Drawing Room of the President's House in Mr. Madison's time. Given to my mother by Mrs. Madison." This was written by the Latrobes' daughter, Julia. The tea box was returned to the White House as a gift from the White House Historical Association in 1971. The wallpaper in the box is by Jacquemart de Benard from circa 1809 to 1811.

This is a tea box lined with French woodblock wallpaper. The box is believed to have been made in China circa 1811 while the wallpaper lining it is believed to be one of the only surviving artifacts from the pre-1814 President's House. First Lady Dolley Madison reportedly gave the wallpaper as a gift to Mary Latrobe, her friend and wife of architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The inscription written on the wallpaper reads: "Paper upon the Drawing Room of the President's House in Mr. Madison's time. Given to my mother by Mrs. Madison." This was written by the Latrobes' daughter, Julia. The tea box was returned to the White House as a gift from the White House Historical Association in 1971. The wallpaper in the box is by Jacquemart de Benard from circa 1809 to 1811.

This close up is of the inscription written on a woodblock wallpaper tea box, which is one of the only surviving artifacts from the pre-1814 President's House. First Lady Dolley Madison gave this as a gift to Mary Latrobe, her friend and wife of architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The inscription written on the wallpaper reads: "Paper upon the Drawing Room of the President's House in Mr. Madison's time. Given to my mother by Mrs. Madison." This was written by the Latrobes' daughter, Julia. The tea box was returned to the White House as a gift from the White House Historical Association in 1971.

The coffeepot, hot-water pot, cream pitcher, and vegetable dish are part of the 130-piece silver service President Andrew Jackson purchased from Baron de Tyull, the Russian minister to the United States, in 1833. The service was created by renowned Parisian silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais between 1809 and 1819. The wine cooler was created by Jean Baptiste-Claude Odiot and was purchased during the James Monroe administration. The wine cooler was created circa 1798 and 1809. The pitchers and wine cooler all feature the engraving, "President's House."

The coffeepot, hot-water pot, cream pitcher, and vegetable dish are part of the 130-piece silver service President Andrew Jackson purchased from Baron de Tyull, the Russian minister to the United States, in 1833. The service was created by renowned Parisian silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais between 1809 and 1819. The wine cooler was created by Jean Baptiste-Claude Odiot and was purchased during the James Monroe administration. The wine cooler was created circa 1798 and 1809. The pitchers and wine cooler all feature the engraving, "President's House."

The coffeepot, hot-water pot, cream pitcher, and vegetable dish are part of the 130-piece silver service President Andrew Jackson purchased from Baron de Tyull, the Russian minister to the United States, in 1833. The service was created by renowned Parisian silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais between 1809 and 1819. The wine cooler was created by Jean Baptiste-Claude Odiot and was purchased during the James Monroe administration. The wine cooler was created circa 1798 and 1809. The pitchers and wine cooler all feature the engraving, "President's House."

This silver water pitcher was made by G.C. Allen of New York in 1858 and belonged to President Martin Van Buren. The pitcher is decorated with the flowers and scrolls of the early Victorian era and is engraved with "Martin Van Buren." Benjamin F. Butler, Van Buren's former law partner and attorney general of the United States, bequeathed funds to Van Buren to purchase three pieces of silver which included this pitcher, as well as another pitcher and an ice cream bowl, after his presidency. George F. Mobley photographed the pitcher in 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This silver water pitcher was made by G.C. Allen of New York in 1858 and belonged to President Martin Van Buren. The pitcher is decorated with the flowers and scrolls of the early Victorian era and is engraved with "Martin Van Buren." Benjamin F. Butler, Van Buren's former law partner and attorney general of the United States, bequeathed funds to Van Buren to purchase three pieces of silver which included this pitcher, as well as another pitcher and an ice cream bowl, after his presidency. George F. Mobley photographed the pitcher in 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration.

The coffeepot, hot-water pot, cream pitcher, and vegetable dish are part of the 130-piece silver service President Andrew Jackson purchased from Baron de Tyull, the Russian minister to the United States, in 1833. The service was created by renowned Parisian silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais between 1809 and 1819. The wine cooler was created by Jean Baptiste-Claude Odiot and was purchased during the James Monroe administration. The wine cooler was created circa 1798 and 1809. The pitchers and wine cooler all feature the engraving, "President's House."

This silver water pitcher was made by G.C. Allen of New York in 1858 and belonged to President Martin Van Buren. The pitcher is decorated with the flowers and scrolls of the early Victorian era and is engraved with "Martin Van Buren." Benjamin F. Butler, Van Buren's former law partner and attorney general of the United States, bequeathed funds to Van Buren to purchase three pieces of silver which included this pitcher, as well as another pitcher and an ice cream bowl, after his presidency. George F. Mobley photographed the pitcher in 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This hand-painted confectionary stand is from the dessert service made for the White House by Edouard D. Honoré of Paris in 1846. President James Polk ordered this pattern for the state service. The pieces feature gilded rims molded in a scroll design and apple green accents, as well as a version of the shield from the Great Seal of the United States, although this one contains stars in the chief which are not present on the Great Seal or Presidential Seal, and the scroll containing the motto "E Pluribus Unum."

This tureen that was created in 2015 by Pickard China of Antioch, Illinois and is a part of the official state service of the Barack Obama administration. The design demonstrates the shift from primary colors used more recently to the new selection of a fluted Kailua Blue, a unique color chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama to represent the blue waters of Hawaii, President Barack Obama's home state. In accordance with tradition, the plate bears the Presidential Coat of Arms. The band of white relief motifs was derived from the Madison personal service. Individual tureens are not found in any other White House service. The Obama state service was first used during a state dinner honoring Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March 2016.

This compote was used by Andrew Jackson at his Tennessee home, The Hermitage. The piece is similar to the gilt-trimmed white china he would have used at the White House.