Walter Scott Lenox founded his company in Trenton, New Jersey in 1889. His idea was to establish an art studio, not a factory. Lenox's Ceramic Art Company swiftly gained a good reputation. By 1897 examples of Lenox's work were included in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
In 1902 the manufacture started offering to its customers service plates. The success of this offer led to development of complete dinner sets. Evolution of the company caused also change of the name to Lenox Incorporated.
In 1910 the company introduced first patterns decorated with transfer prints. In 1918 president Woodrow Wilson commissioned an official state service in the factory. The Lenox china is in continuos use at the White House.
Walter Scott Lenox died in 1920. One of the most important man influencing Lenox's products was Frank Graham Holmes, who was a chief designer from 1905 to 1954. According to the company, about half of all fine porcelain dinnerware purchased since the 1950s in United States bears the Lenox mark.
In 1983, Lenox was acquired by Brown-Forman Corporation. In 2005, Brown-Forman sold Lenox, Incorporated, to a U.S. manufacturer of holiday collectibles Department 56.
In 2008 Lenox Sales, Inc. filed for bankruptcy. In 2009 Clarion Capital Partners purchased the assets of Lenox and renamed the company Lenox Corporation.
