for the "Oh for Gawd's Sake" file --- Laura Bush's new $485,000 china

[NMDemDist2]

delivered just two weeks before they leave

butt ugly IMO :banghead:

[hippywife]

1. Wouldn't have expected anything better from her.

After all, she's not exactly known for having impeccable taste...in any area at all.

[TygrBright]

2. Ah, yes... the well-known "Bubba Rich" school of decor.

Hasn't anyone told her that gold-washed utensils are the last word in tacky?

Or does she have the "pearlized" car finish with the gold-washed trim, too?

Bleh... Betcha Michelle puts that stuff in the attic and hauls out some of the nice old stuff.

disgustedly,
Bright

[Warpy]

3. The only difference in this "gift" to the White House

by a departing 2 term president is that there are two sets of it.

I'm sure the top was the set Laura liked, while the more sedate and elegant bottom set was the one the White House Historical Society preferred.

Since tradition has it the outgoing two term president picks the china, the WHHS bit the bullet and bought both sets.

I'm sure the second set will be used for state functions. The first set will be reserved for less formal occasions.

[cbayer]

4. It was donated by Lennox, FWIW. At least they didn't spend our money on it.

Unbelievably ugly stuff.

:shrug:

[Stinky The Clown]

5. What can be expected of a woman who fancies drapery as her couture?

And even that propensity is not original.



Even her makeup is tacky .... and a copy ........



...... of this better executed face troweling job.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. The funniest thing I ever read on DU

was a post by someone wondering if Laura Bush ever figured out that her dressmaker hated her.



The First Enabler is burdened by neither style nor taste. She's the perfect match for Chimpy Fucknuts.

[grasswire]

9. Many of her clothes are designed by her MIL's designer, Scaasi.

That oughta tell ya something.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

10. Arnie Isaacs?

I had a friend who worked for him. Scaasi is simply Isaacs spelled backward.

Tres elegant, no?

I do all my own wardrobe.

[hippywife]

13. Baby, I like your style!

:rofl:


And I still hate every single thing about those dishes! What an abomination!

:hi:

[FloridaJudy]

67. Okay, now tell that woman

To give me my clothes back!

[eridani]

34. Somewhere in Texas, a sofa is missing its upholstery fabric n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

6. That first one looks like there is a big insect in the middle of the plate

:shrug:

[eleny]

7. I like them

Magnolias are beautiful. More about the informal set from the article, "...some pieces in the informal set are intricately decorated with butterflies, dragonflies and cute little bugs inspired by species indigenous to the White House grounds." And also this, "The theme was taken from the White House magnolia, which is thought to be the oldest tree on the lawn and dates to the time of Andrew Jackson."
<sigh>

The dish with the eagle pattern seems lovely, too, with the lattice border. From the article, "The design was inspired by a French dinner service believed to have been owned by James and Dolley Madison. The eagle motif is taken from an inlay on a Massachusetts sideboard in the White House collection said to have been owned by Daniel Webster."

I liked them to begin with but the historical references make them all the more interesting to me.

The gold plated silverware? Not so much. :D

[NMDemDist2]

12. it's the lattice border I don't like on the dinner plates

it may just be the angle, but the color looks wrong and it's too big IMO

interesting about the luncheon plates, they picked a poor one as an example I suppose

[eleny]

15. The lattice is what attracted me to the overall design

I'll have to find pictures of the Madison set. It's been decades since I was in D.C. and toured the WH. I remember seeing dishes there or at the Smithsonian.

[NMDemDist2]

16. that cross hatch is a reoccuring trend

even the Reagun's had it

[eleny]

19. This thread prompted me to check out images of other WH china patterns

Green is tricky to use. The Truman plates don't look they would make a meal look appetizing. The lattice of the Bush pattern makes the green color more subtle.

I think the plates that Laura Bush chose would make the overall appearance of the tables light and festive.

It would be great to visit the WH State dining room when the tables were all set with flowers and everything before the stuffed shirts arrived. :D

[FloridaJudy]

68. I love the Johnson china

That's the only one I wouldn't mind having in my place. The rest are just too darned gaudy: this isn't a monarchy, folks. The Roosevelt and Wilson choices also look appropriately modest, but I still prefer Lady Bird's choice.

[hippywife]

14. Magnolias are beautiful flowers.

But every single thing about both of those settings screams "Gawdy!" no matter who picked them out. But then the White House decor isn't exactly subtle, either, is it?

:hi:

[eleny]

18. I have "magnolia envy"

No way can they grow here in the arid climate. I think the dish is beautiful.

Some of the WH rooms are anything but subtle from what I remember. Btw, here's some more WH china. A lot of variety.
http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/furnishings/china.htm

[Tangerine LaBamba]

22. This should get you through today.........

[eleny]

28. Gawgous!

Thanks, those are beautiful. And I love how in the south they make wreaths for the holidays from the leaves.

[Lugnut]

11. Good lord it's ugly.

I guess Laura never heard that less is more. I prefer simplicity and that's not it. Yuck.

[Warpy]

40. I have to admit that I liked the FDR china the best

It was incredibly simple, http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/china/roosevelt.html

My own taste runs to Woolworth's white although now it's Corelle because that stuff doesn't break as easily.

[The empressof all]

17. I'm not a fan

Of the two I prefer the one on top with the flower but what's with all the gold?

The top one reminds me of something my grandmother would have and seems rather homey. I could see eating some good old beef stew on it with lots of gravy to hide the design.

The bottom one is just too busy and Gold.

I prefer simple china. But that's just me.

[NashVegas]

20. Here're A Bunch of Historical Photos Of White House China

This one's my favorite - John Quincy Adams



And if you wondered about the The Clinton years:



More

http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/furnishings/china.htm


Madison



Monroe - 1817



Wilson 1918:




FDR:


Truman -



LBJ -

[eleny]

21. The John Quincy has that eye-like pattern on the rim

Do you think it's like the eye on our currency or just a coincidence?

At first I didn't like the LBJ pattern. But the more I see it the more I like it.

The Hayes china was wild. Seen here on page 7 of this pdf http://www.firstladies.org/documents/PartyPoliticsbrochure-webcompress.pdf

[NashVegas]

25. It's a Conspiracy!

Boo.

:hi:

That Hayes stuff is pretty wild. I got something like that in TJ Maxx as a gag gift.

The Harrison china is better on second glance.

[eleny]

27. Good for you - I wouldn't cross Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

23. That is a GREAT link!

Thank you for it.

It looks to me like our earlier Presidents had terrific taste, and then - thank you, Nancy Reagan - it all went to hell. I hope the Obamas have better taste.

I think I like the FDR best, but, boy, Jefferson's was just perfect. And look at Harrison's - it's gorgeous.

Funny how things evolve. The latter-day garishness - what was Hillary Clinton thinking? - is an embarrassment.

[NashVegas]

24. I Thought Jefferson's Was Nice, Too

And wonder if he may have designed it, himself.

As for HC, well, gold was cheap.

[hippywife]

64. If the "almost" simplicity of

the inaugural luncheon menu and Michelle's wardrobe are any sign, then hopefully the Obama's will be a little simpler, at least.

[hippywife]

26. There's a lotta garish crap in there, that's for sure!

I like the Pierce for it's simplicity. I would also like the Truman and LBJ without the emblem in the middle of the plate.

The rest is pure ick!

:hi:

[TygrBright]

29. FDR had style... though I suspect that was Eleanor's choice

Simple and beautiful, dignified and elegant.

Of the others, Wilson and Madison are okay. The rest, not so much. Clinton's is one of the worst, actually. Maybe gold just brings out the snob in me. It just screams "Bubba Rich."

Well, chacun a son gout, as the lady said when she kissed her cow.

aesthetically,
Bright

[Warpy]

41. The Adams china would put me completely off my feed

Who thought it was a good idea to have all those eyeballs staring at you from the plate?

I still prefer the FDR.

[NashVegas]

47. I Know, I Know

But I love teh Federalist colors. So pagan ...

[LaydeeBug]

49. I wonder about Carter and kennedy. James Madison's practically look retro. nt

[NMDemDist2]

52. I don't think Carter ordered china, usually only two term presidents

order china

I think Jackie did order some, but I"m not sure....

:shrug:

[LaydeeBug]

54. LBJ wasn't a two termer. Hmmmm....

what china did they eat on. I must know! I'm series.

[NMDemDist2]

55. they have all those sets to chose from, but I think they are for state dinners

I imagine they have regular stuff for the day to day meals

or maybe not.....

[tigereye]

71. the Madison is lovely

[Richard Steele]

30. I have detailed schematics for a guillotine, and tools and materials...

...to turn those drawings into a fully-functional mechanism,
should you ever have need of one.

Call me sometime, won't you?

[JeffR]

31. All I can say is I wouldn't even eat my own cooking off those plates.

And I hasten to add that the phrase "my own cooking" is really over-dignifying what I'm capable of in the kitchen.

[NMDemDist2]

32. yeah, it would stretch any chef's presentation abilities when having to

plate the food on those IMO

[TreasonousBastard]

33. I don't think so much butt ugly as...

impractical, at least the magnolia. I could see digging around on that plate and embarassing yourself trying to pick up the leaves.

The eagle looks slightly out of focus, and I'm not sure why they didn't use the Presidential seal like everyone else did. But, at least you won't mistake any part of it for a chicken wing.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Simp[le Elegance from FDR

Were I the resident of the white house, this is the pattern I'd want used at state dinners.




When you visit our house for family meals, our chef serves on this pattern:


(Attitudes by Studio Nova, obtained from that very exclusive culinary couturier, BB&B)

However, were you to visit for a state dinner at our house, you would be served on this pattern:

(The Metz, (1924), by Noritake, service for 12, complete with all service pieces, obtained at auction for $80.)

This is the silver we use with our The Metz china - the Deauville pattern from Oneida's Community Plate line from 1929.

[The empressof all]

36. The FDR was my favorite too H2S

I prefer elegant simplicity.

For home, I'm a Fiesta Ware kind of gal.

[Stinky The Clown]

37. The new or the old?

Fiesta Ware, I mean.

Honestly, we love the Fiesta Ware, too, but simply have no room for it. I am always soooooo tempted to buy it when I see it, but have thus far stalwartly resisted.

[The empressof all]

38. I have a little bit of both

Now that I have a complete (albeit miss matched colors) set for 12 I limit myself to a few pieces a year. I try not to use the older pieces but I'm getting up there and life is short so I do admit to living dangerously with the bowls sometimes.

[Stinky The Clown]

39. :rofl:

"Living dangerously with the bowls, sometimes" :rofl:

I know exactly what you mean. :hi:

Mismatched colors was always intended. It may be the only china where mismatching was part of the concept.

[hippywife]

42. Did you know that some of the old pieces

are radioactive? The red for sure, and I can't remember but I think the orange, as well. My other half has a Geiger counter and tested it out. I make him keep the plate he bought to test it outside of the house. :wow:

[The empressof all]

43. I heard that...

I don't have any red or orange old ones. I worry more about lead in old dishes. I think the Fiesta has pretty much tested safe throughout the years for that. I get freaked out a bit with the radio active stuff too. Every Once in a While I'll look up at my Smoke Detector above my bed and think that the radio active bits inside will leach out and kill me in my sleep.

Although I do live on the dangerous side and use the older pieces on occasion I mostly go to the newer stuff which I keep in the kitchen and not in the buffet.

In my twenties I had my thyroid irradited and was told to stay away from small children and animals for a few days. Now that was really creepy.

[hippywife]

44. Yeah, creeped me out

to have a radioactive isotope injected into my body for a stress test, too. Of course we just had to drag out he Geiger counter when we got home from that, too. :eyes:

[The empressof all]

46. Years later I still remember the Creme Brulee

Twenty years ago or so my SO did business with a Westinghouse Branch working on the grounds of Hanford over in the Tri Cities (Big Nuclear Lab in Eastern WA). I was so terrified even getting within 30 miles of the complex. We had dinner with one of his associates who lived there and this poor woman had the longest arm hair on a human I ever saw. Only confirmed my fear of "the atom" even more when she told us she grew up in the area.

The resturant did have some amazing desserts though.

[hippywife]

48. I know about Hanford.

I wouldn't have gotten within 100 miles of the place! :scared:

[NMDemDist2]

50. hubby worked there as a telecom tech about 20 years ago

they still send him medical surveys every five years.

the gov'mnt must send them the info from our taxes, they just show up in the mail every few years no matter where we've moved.......

[hippywife]

45. Our everyday stuff

is a mix assortment of a couple of what he had (none that match each other) and a couple that I had that do. Company place settings are a set of 6 plain pink/rose stoneware giant round plates and 6 matching bread plates I picked up for a total of $9 for the lot at Tuesday Morning. The flatware is a conglomeration of his, mine, and my grandmothers.

Needless to say, we don't stand on any kinda ceremony here, at all. :hi:

[eleny]

51. I've been finding Corelle at the thrift shop that I like

Last year I found a stack of a holly and berry pattern dishes along with matching bowls and then a small stack of some that look summery.

The thing is that they're so lightweight and don't take up much room in the dishwasher. Hubby likes the thin, lightweight qualities. We have so many dishes around this joint but always reach for those these days. And if we drop one it's no big deal. :D

:hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

61. We have some Corelle ...... I agree with you .....

.... and the patterns are so cool. To my eye, they're very dated, but in a nice way. Most of all, though, it seems to last forever with no deterioration. Mainly because it is glass, not ceramic.

[eleny]

66. And even though they're glass, they seem to hold up in the bottom of the dishwasher

I know what you mean about the patterns. My sunny ones are a yellow/orange with green pattern around the edges. Very cheerful and have a 70s feel. I always hope to find more of those.

[hippywife]

62. I did pick up four Corelle cereal bowls

at an estate sale at work. Plain white with a thin dark green border atop the slightly fluted edges. Those are definitely our everyday soup/cereal/ice cream bowls.

They are nice and light and very usable. :hi:

[TreasonousBastard]

69. Corelle! Didn't every home have that...

for a while years ago.

Corelle for the family dinner, the fine china for "occasions."

Anyway, I wander into the Corelle outlet down the road every so often, where they dump the overruns and stuff that isn't selling and grab what I can for up to 75% off on a good day.

I like their Hearthstone stoneware, too, and try to catch pieces in the nondisgusting colors as they come in.

[NMDemDist2]

53. while in PHX (the home of teh awesome thrift stores) I slowly replaced ALL

my matchy matchy dishes and got a mix of a bunch of colors, usually two settings of each

here's a pic of a day I scored big LOL

I got a pizza stone and peel, two sets of the cobalt blue, three of the lighter blue, that striped cutting board is still a favorite in daily use, as are the steel bowl and sieve. I cried when the blue spoon rest got broken LOL. The salmon serving platter gets pulled out once in a while, it's really good for serving brownies or cookies

in addition to the blues pictured, I have pink, burgundy and a light melon color in dishes, bread plates and bowls, which I refused to pay more than $0.75 per piece. I set an eclectic table to say the least


:rofl:

[eleny]

56. Oh, the steel bowl!

That was a really good day at the thrift.

[NMDemDist2]

57. that bowl is just so great

make huge batches of meatloaf, toss a ton of pasta, whatever.

I love that bowl and the pizza stone and peel get worked out too

yeah, that was a good day thrifting, the only things I miss in PHX are the thrifts and Costco

:cry:

[eleny]

58. I guess this only means that tag sales in your general area might be doozys

[NMDemDist2]

59. actually they have some good Estate sales, but I've worked weekends

since I got here it seems

:cry:

[eleny]

60. You are way overdue!

:cry:

[hippywife]

63. That is a wonderful haul!

You done good!

We live out in the boonies south of town so I rarely get to the north end of town to where the thrift stores all seem to be.

[Tab]

65. I didn't realize the Franklin Mint was making china

The bottom one is acceptable, the top one, however... :puke:

Oh, and geez, wouldn't I like an extra half-frickin million to spend on dishes. Are these made by Halliburton, or what? Sheesh.

[tigereye]

70. how awful to spend that much money on china when so many people are

losing jobs and homes. Sort of the "let them eat cake" attitude that typifies this administration... :eyes: