How to Identify Lenox Patterns

With hundreds of different patterns, many of them unnamed, identifying your Lenox dinnerware isn’t always an easy task. Lenox made pieces in small numbers for individuals and companies, and as these patterns were only made in limited numbers, they did not always bear the Lenox name. Even if the name of the company doesn’t appear on your piece, it’s still possible to find out whether or not the piece is made by Lenox by deciphering the Lenox code, a combination of letters and numbers.

Check the back of the piece for the Lenox name, and then check the edges if you can’t find a name on the back. Lenox placed their logo on either spot, depending on the piece and the pattern. If you also see a "Made in the USA" stamp, it indicates that the piece was made after 1930.

Look for the Lenox stamp, which shows an uppercase “L” inside a wreath. The company used this stamp until 1988, in combination with the Lenox name. You might discover that the Lenox name is missing, but if it still has the logo, it’s an authentic piece.

Examine the piece closely, looking for a series of letters and numbers. The first set of numbers refers to the shape of the piece, followed by the pattern code. The pattern code is made up of a letter, a number, and, sometimes, another single letter. The first letter and number refer to the date of the piece.

Compare the letter and number code to the information found on the Lenox website at www.lenox.com to determine when the piece was made. If the piece has a number of 299 or less, the piece was made before 1926. If the number is less than 500, it was made prior to 1950. Few Lenox pieces from 1942-1946 exist because the company helped with the war effort.

Check to see if the code on your piece features an A, C, W or X followed by a number between 300-500. If this is the case, the pattern of your piece was created when Lenox changed to a new numbering and identification system. These patterns date from 1951 to 1957.