Pickard China

Pickard China is an American porcelain decorating and manufacturing company based in Antioch, Illinois. Founded in Wisconsin in 1893 by Wilder Austin Pickard, the business initially specialized in hand-painted giftware, artware, dessert services, and tea sets. It later became known for combining decorative painting with the production of ceramic tableware and other porcelain goods. The company’s early identity was shaped by its Chicago studio and by a network of china painters, including artists who had trained at or were associated with the Art Institute of Chicago. In its first period, Pickard imported undecorated porcelain blanks from Europe and applied its own painted decoration in the United States. This model allowed the business to emphasize American artistic direction while relying on established European porcelain production. Pickard moved from Chicago toward more vertically integrated manufacturing during the twentieth century. After Austin Pickard joined the family enterprise, the company began developing its own undecorated china and glaze technology. Experimental domestic production began in 1930, and a manufacturing facility opened in Antioch in 1937. This transition helped Pickard evolve from a decorating studio into a producer of finished ceramic goods. The company has remained family-owned across multiple generations. Wilder Pickard’s son Austin participated in the move toward domestic production. Henry A. “Pete” Pickard, the founder’s grandson, served as president from 1966 until his retirement in 1994. His brother-in-law, Eben C. Morgan II, subsequently led the company until shortly before his death in 2008. Richard E. Morgan and Andrew Pickard Morgan, descendants of the founder, represent a later generation involved in the business. Pickard’s product and contract work has extended beyond consumer dinnerware. Its portfolio has included fine china services, decorative accessories, artware, and collectibles, as well as custom services for diplomatic, governmental, corporate, transportation, and hospitality clients. In 1977, the U.S. Department of State selected Pickard to manufacture an official china service for American embassies and other diplomatic missions. The service incorporated a gold star-and-stripe border and an embossed version of the Great Seal of the United States. The company has also produced custom or exclusive services associated with organizations and locations such as the United States Air Force, Air Force One, Blair House, Camp David, New York’s Gracie Mansion, the United Nations, Hilton Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Marriott, and General Motors. It has additionally made services for foreign and institutional dignitaries, including the King of Saudi Arabia. These commissions positioned Pickard as a specialist in formal presentation china rather than solely as a mass-market tableware producer. A notable later commission was the 3,520-piece Obama State China service, introduced on April 27, 2015. Pickard continues to be described as producing ceramic tableware and artware, with its business centered on fine china, decorative products, and collectibles. Its distinctive positioning rests on American hand decoration, family ownership, custom production, and association with official and ceremonial clients.

Pickard China was incorporated in Edgerton, Wisconsin, in 1893. Wilder Austin Pickard began commercial activity the following year, initially offering hand-painted giftware and artware before expanding into dinnerware. The enterprise moved to Chicago in 1897 and operated under the Pickard China Studio name during its early decorating period. The Chicago studio specialized in hand-decorated dessert and tea services. Pickard assembled a group of male and female china painters, many of whom had emigrated from Europe. The company also drew on artistic talent connected with the Art Institute of Chicago, helping it develop a recognizable American approach to porcelain decoration. Rather than beginning as a fully integrated porcelain manufacturer, Pickard initially imported undecorated European plates and other blanks, then applied its decorative work in the United States. A major strategic change occurred when Wilder Pickard’s son, Austin Pickard, joined the business. Austin promoted the development of domestically made undecorated plates and dishes, as well as the company’s own glaze capabilities. Pickard produced its first experimental china in 1930. After years of experimentation, the company opened a production facility in Antioch, Illinois, in 1937. The Antioch operation gave Pickard a manufacturing base in addition to its established decorating expertise. Leadership remained within the extended family. Henry A. “Pete” Pickard, a third-generation family member, became president in 1966 and held the position until retiring in 1994. Eben C. Morgan II, Pete Pickard’s brother-in-law, succeeded him and remained president until shortly before his death in June 2008. Richard E. Morgan and Andrew Pickard Morgan, great-grandsons of founder Wilder Pickard, later joined the enterprise as representatives of its fourth generation. The business has continued to be characterized as family-owned. Over time, Pickard broadened its activities from hand-painted decorative pieces and domestic tableware to custom services for institutional and ceremonial users. Its sales have centered on fine china dinnerware, decorative accessories, and collectibles. The company has also taken on commissions for hotels, corporations, government bodies, diplomatic establishments, and prominent residences. The 1977 selection by the U.S. Department of State was a significant institutional milestone. Pickard produced the official china used by American embassies and other diplomatic missions around the world. The service featured a formal patriotic decoration, including an embossed gold stars-and-stripes border and an embossed reproduction of the Great Seal of the United States. Pickard’s other reported clients and commissions included the King of Saudi Arabia, Hilton Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Marriott, General Motors, the U.S. Air Force, Air Force One, Blair House, Camp David, the United Nations, and Gracie Mansion in New York. In the twenty-first century, Pickard continued to make ceramic tableware and artware. Its production of the 3,520-piece Obama State China service, introduced on April 27, 2015, demonstrated the company’s continuing role in official American presentation china. Pickard’s history therefore combines hand decoration, American studio craftsmanship, family succession, domestic ceramic manufacturing, and custom orders for high-profile institutional settings.

• 2015

  Obama State China service introduced

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Pickard introduced a 3,520-piece State China service associated with the Obama administration.

• 2008

  Morgan presidency ends

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Eben C. Morgan II held the presidency until shortly before his death in June 2008.

• 1994

  Eben C. Morgan II succeeds Pete Pickard

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Eben C. Morgan II became president after Henry A. Pickard retired.

• 1977

  Official State Department china commission

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. Department of State selected Pickard to manufacture china for American embassies and diplomatic missions.

• 1966

  Henry A. Pickard becomes president

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Third-generation family member Henry A. “Pete” Pickard began a presidency that lasted until his retirement in 1994.

• 1937

  Antioch production facility opens

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Following development work on china bodies and glazes, Pickard opened a production facility in Antioch, Illinois.

• 1930

  Experimental domestic china produced

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Pickard began experimenting with making its own undecorated china rather than relying exclusively on imported European blanks.

• 1897

  Operations move to Chicago

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  The company moved from Wisconsin to Chicago, where its studio developed a reputation for decorated dessert and tea sets.

• 1894

  Hand-painted giftware business begins

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Wilder Austin Pickard began offering hand-painted giftware and artware, later expanding into dinnerware and tea-related services.

• 1893

  Company incorporated in Wisconsin

  [1]Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org

  Pickard China was incorporated in Edgerton, Wisconsin, establishing the family business that would later become a Chicago-based decorating studio and Illinois manufacturer.

High-end American hand-painted china and custom ceremonial tableware, combining studio decoration, domestic manufacturing, family ownership, and institutional commissions.

• Decorative porcelain · 1894

  Hand-painted giftware and artware

  Pickard’s earliest commercial work centered on hand-painted giftware and artware. These products established the company’s identity as a decorating studio and emphasized individually applied decoration rather than anonymous mass production.

• Tableware

  Dessert and tea sets

  Dessert and tea services were among the studio’s early specialties. Pickard used imported porcelain blanks in its initial period and applied painted decoration in its Chicago operation, helping define the company’s formal and ornamental style.

• Tableware

  Fine china dinnerware

  Fine china dinnerware remains a core part of Pickard’s business. The category includes formal table services and decorated ceramic pieces intended for domestic, hospitality, institutional, and ceremonial use.

• Custom institutional tableware · 1977

  Official diplomatic and State China services

  Pickard has produced formal services for government and diplomatic settings. The 1977 Department of State service used patriotic motifs including stars, stripes, gold decoration, and the Great Seal of the United States.

• Official commemorative tableware · 2015

  Obama State China service

  Introduced on April 27, 2015, the Obama State China service comprised 3,520 pieces. It represents Pickard’s continuing role in producing large-scale formal china for official American use.

• Collectibles and home décor

  Collector plates and decorative accessories

  Pickard’s broader range includes decorative accessories and collectibles, including collector-oriented plates and other ceramic objects that extend the brand beyond functional dinnerware.

• 2015

  Introduce Obama State China serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Pickard continued its work in official American presentation china and developed a large-scale service associated with the Obama administration.

  Action taken

  The company introduced a 3,520-piece Obama State China service on April 27, 2015.

  Aftermath

  The launch demonstrated Pickard’s continuing position as a producer of formal, government-related china.

  Source

• 1977

  Accept official diplomatic china commissionOther

  Background

  The U.S. Department of State needed an official service for American embassies and diplomatic missions.

  Action taken

  Pickard was selected to manufacture the service, incorporating formal American governmental symbols and decoration.

  Aftermath

  The commission expanded Pickard’s profile in government, diplomatic, and ceremonial tableware.

  Source

• 1930

  Move toward domestic productionStrategy

  Background

  Pickard had originally imported porcelain blanks from Europe and decorated them in its own studio. The company sought greater control over its ceramic bodies and manufacturing process.

  Action taken

  The business began experimental production of its own china and worked on developing its own glazes.

  Aftermath

  The development program led to the opening of a production facility in Antioch, Illinois, in 1937.

  Source

1. 1Pickard Chinaen.wikipedia.org