Holiday

[trenet]

Does anyone have both older and newer Lenox Holiday (holly) China? 

I think the paint colour is different now.  To my eye, the older ones had a different shade of green and the newer ones have a darker, brighter tone - maybe more of a blue undertone. 

I am not talking about  any difference due to age. I think they are painting with a different  colour.  

-Has anyone else noticed a difference?  

-Does anyone know if the back stamps are different between the two?  

I was was hoping to finally get some this year but, the colour seems different and not as pretty as I remember. 

[lulu2]

I have old Holly china.  Last year I commented that I thought the newer china looked different.  The SA said mine was probably just old and faded. I was not about to argue with her.

[drizzellla]

So sorry - I went to Boscovs earlier today. They had a huge display of Lenox Holly china.

We were looking at it but I can't answer your questions. I was not paying attention to the shade of green or the back stamp. 

I had collected Holiday Tartan. 

I used to go to the Lenox warehouse sales all the time (my girlfried used to work for Lenox). She used to say when we were buying stuff if there was a choice to always buy the product that was not made in China. She said the older stuff was a better quality. But I do not remember her talking about the shades being different.

[SahmIam]

YES!  I thought it was just me, lololol.

[trenet]

@lulu2 

Thanks for your reply.  I don’t think it is about being old and faded either.

I think the older was a slightly paler colour and probably had a different undertone.  The colour tone looked more elegant than the newer ones I’ve seen. 

I’ve always wanted it - I wanted something more formal than my current winter/Christmas dinnerware (Portmeirion Holly & Ivy mixed with Portmeirion Pomona red currant)

but, if I can’t find any of the older ones, I probably won’t get any at all. 

[SahmIam]

@trenet  Go to Replacements, Lmtd.com to purchase the older Lenox pieces. Our Wedgewood pattern was discontinued decades ago so we purchase the items there. Same with Lenox and Waterford. LOVE the site!!

[luvmybeetle]

For some reason I thought the older pieces were trimmed in 24K gold and could not be dishwashed.  I have the newer sets in Holly and you can wash in the dishwasher.  Maybe that's the difference in the color.  I was just glad I could put in dishwasher or would never have bought them.

[homedecor1]

my Lenox is over 40 years old.  I never put in dishwasher.  The China is a thinner style vs. today's (you can almost see thru it if put up to light) and it feels lighter.  I agree I think the colors were more "muted" (I call it elegant) vs today's pieces.  Back then I believe Lenox was not mass produced in China as it is now.

My dad started it for me I have service for 12. 

I bought all my pieces directly from the Lenox Headquarters my aunts father was the lead master painter for gold trim at Lenox & she had a collection I would have loved to have!  I purchased through her or at the Lenox Outlet stores (Cranbury, NJ) once a year holiday sales. (I don't know if they still have them).  This is the serving platter.

I would take a look at the rest but it's safely boxed awaiting its trip to my niece.  

My other favorite pieces are "Friendly Village" by Johnson Bros

[Katluver925]

I've had the dinnerware in the Holly pattern for close to 20 years and I recently purchased some cereal bowls to go with the set.  I compared the old with the new and the difference is so slight it isn't noticeable when sitting side by side.  The green is the same shade, but the leaves seem to be filled in a little bit more, less of the ivory background shows through the green.  The red looks the same to me.  They have changed the Hallmark, but most companies do this from time to time.  I will tell you that only the dinnerware is still made in the US, a lot of the accessories are not and there is a difference in those pieces.  The gold rims are not as heavy on the footed mugs that I have, they were made overseas in Thailand or China. Any of the pieces that have a green rim were made overseas.  They coordinate well enough in my opinion.

I also have the Butterfly Meadow pattern and there is a big difference between the old and the new.  The new colors are much brighter and the images are not as sharp as the old ones.  This is very disappointing when you need to replace a piece!  I think the old dinnerware was made in the US and the new is not.  They must have moved the more casual lines overseas and just kept the formal China in the US.

[Susan Louise]

---

@homedecor1 wrote:

my Lenox is over 40 years old.  I never put in dishwasher.  The China is a thinner style vs. today's (you can almost see thru it if put up to light) and it feels lighter.  I agree I think the colors were more "muted" (I call it elegant) vs today's pieces.  Back then I believe Lenox was not mass produced in China as it is now.

My dad started it for me I have service for 12. 

I bought all my pieces directly from the Lenox Headquarters my aunts father was the lead master painter for gold trim at Lenox & she had a collection I would have loved to have!  I purchased through her or at the Lenox Outlet stores (Cranbury, NJ) once a year holiday sales. (I don't know if they still have them).  This is the serving platter.

I would take a look at the rest but it's safely boxed awaiting its trip to my niece.  

My other favorite pieces are "Friendly Village" by Johnson Bros

---

@homedecor1  I also love the 'friendly village' by Johnson Bros...and several other designs from their company. Additionally, before I actually started collecting dinnerware a few yrs ago, the only set I ever owned was a complete dinnerware collection...plain off white, I got on clearance for 75% off back in the early 80's. I bought it when I ist moved out on my own. It is still the main set being used today in our home. The pieces have aged well and nobody would ever guess looking at the pieces they were about 35+ yrs old