Bristol-Based Lenox Makes Crystal Vases For President Biden, Vice President Harris

Bristol Borough-based Lenox Corporation created two custom-made engraved crystal vases that were presented to the new president and vice president.

The gifts were presented to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday following the inauguration.

Here’s how Lenox describes the vases:

The inspiration for this year’s inaugural gifts comes from archival illustrations. The president’s vase features an illustration of the White House set within a classic scrollwork cartouche. For the vice president there is an image of the Capitol also set within a classic scrollwork cartouche. Both vases feature deep cutting and polishing techniques and are crafted entirely by hand in Pennsylvania by master craftsman, Peter O’Rourke. The vases are made of lead crystal and stand at a stately 17″ tall and will be placed on top of cherry wood bases that bear an inscription of the date and occasion engraved into silver-plated plaques.

Lenox’s Chief Creative Officer Fawn Ostriak worked with her team and master glass-cutter Peter O’Rourke create a gifts.

The designs were approved by the Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies.

“On behalf of the American people, I am pleased to accept Lenox’s gift for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies,” said U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies. “Lenox has crafted a beautiful gift that perfectly encapsulates this historic tradition. I look forward to it being presented to the newly elected president and vice president.”

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar presented the vases to Biden and Harris. She noted that Bristol Borough is about 100 miles from Biden’s hometown of Scranton.

This is the ninth consecutive inauguration Lenox has provided gifts for presidents and vice presidents.

The tradition started with President George H.W. Bush at his inauguration in 1989.

“Lenox Corporation is honored to have been the first American china to be used in the White House and to have been selected as the designer and manufacturer of choice for the past 29 years. And this year we are especially proud to produce the Inaugural Commemorative Gift for the president and the very first female vice president of the United States of America,” said Lenox CEO Mads Ryder.

Lenox, a more than 100-year-old tableware company based on Radcliffe Street, has created fine china dinnerware for the White House as well as the vice president’s official residence Number One Observatory Circle, over 300 U.S. embassies, and more than half of the county’s governors’ mansions.

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