The Nation Unites to Honor the New President and Vice President

One-of-a-Kind Crystal Bowls from Lenox will be the Official Inaugural Gifts
from the American People

BRISTOL, Pa., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive
inauguration, Lenox Group Inc., has created the official Inaugural gifts from
the American people, given to the President-elect and Vice President-elect of
the United States. On January 20, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama and Vice
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be presented with priceless,
custom-made, one-of-a-kind engraved crystal bowls at the Inaugural Luncheon
following the swearing in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. These stunning gifts
were offered to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
(JCCIC), by Lenox, and the design was approved by the committee.
Lenox Group Inc., the oldest and most prestigious maker of crystal and
fine china in the United States, has designed and created the Inaugural gift
for the incoming President since George H. W. Bush in 1989. For each
Inauguration, the Lenox team of experts works for more than a hundred hours to
create a gift that encapsulates the spirit of the American people and the new
presidency. Unique gifts have been created for George H. W. Bush Senior in
1989, Bill Clinton in 1993 and 1997, and for George W. Bush in 2001 and 2005.
"The inauguration of a new president is one of the most solemn and
ceremonial moments in our nation's history," said Senator Feinstein
(D-Calif.), Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural
Ceremonies. "Lenox, a great American china company, has once again created a
beautiful gift that captures the beauty and dignity of this truly special
occasion."
After working on this project for more than 100 hours with master
glass-cutter Peter O'Rourke, Timothy Carder, Lenox Vice President of Design,
handed over the stunning pieces of craftsmanship at an intimate ceremony held
on Capitol Hill. The official Inaugural gifts were delivered to Senator Dianne
Feinstein in Washington on January 12, 2009.
"We knew six months ago that no matter how people voted on November 4,
this was going to be a historic new administration," said Timothy Carder. "It
was a conscious decision to return to the original design of the crystal bowl.
We wanted to welcome the newly elected President and Vice President into
office with a classic and beautiful piece that truly embodies the energy and
excitement felt by the American people."
The Presidential crystal bowl shows a stunning image of the White House,
flanked by cherry trees on either side. The Vice Presidential crystal bowl
depicts the Capitol building, also flanked with blooming cherry trees on
either side. Rotating the bowls 360 degrees provides dreamlike panoramic views
of both American landmarks from different angles through the trees. The two
bowls were created using a combination of etching and hand cutting. Each bowl
rests on a hand-cut crystal plinth with faceted cuts, made of optical crystal
and is engraved. The President's bowl is engraved with President Obama's name,
"The Presidential Inauguration" and "January 20, 2009." A similar bowl will
be presented to Vice President Biden.
"It is a great privilege to create the Inaugural gift from the American
people for the incoming President and Vice President," said Marc Pfefferle,
Chief Executive Officer of Lenox, Inc. "For 20 years, we have been honored
with this responsibility and our revered design and glass cutting artists
always respond with a unique and meaningful creation."
For 90 years, Lenox has created fine china dinnerware for the White House,
the vice president's official residence, over 300 U.S. Embassies and more than
half of the governor's mansions. Lenox became the first American china to be
used in the White House in 1918 when President Wilson commissioned the company
to create a 1,700-piece service bearing the presidential seal in raised gold.
Over the years, Lenox has created new state services for five additional
presidents -- Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush -- that
reflect not only the style of the day, but the timeless beauty of Lenox's
renowned ivory china.
About Lenox Group Inc.
Lenox Group Inc. is a market leader in quality tabletop, giftware and
collectibles. The company markets its products primarily under the Lenox(R),
Dansk(R), Gorham(R), and Department 56 brands. Together, these brands
represent more than 480 years of tabletop and giftware experience. Visit Lenox
at their website at http://www.Lenox.com or call 1-800-63-LENOX.
SOURCE Lenox Group Inc.

Marianne McGovern of Lenox Group Inc., +1-267-525-5278,
marianne_mcgovern@lenox.com; or Elizabeth Taggart of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-212-453-2129, elizabeth.taggart@fleishman.com, for Lenox Group Inc.