Theaster Gates Acquires Pickard China, America's Last Fine China Manufacturer
The last fine china manufacturer in the United States, Pickard China, has been acquired by Theaster Gates, a 53-year-old artist from Chicago, for an undisclosed amount. The news was shared with the company’s 12 employees at its Antioch, Illinois factory in early September. Established in 1893, Pickard has a distinguished history, having provided dinnerware for the White House, including a set commissioned by Michelle Obama. However, the company has seen a significant decline, producing only a quarter of its output from the 1970s. The sale was initiated by Andy Pickard Morgan as he approaches retirement. Gates aims to modernize the factory and venture into porcelain production. Historian Philip Scranton pointed out that rising costs have led to the closure of most American china manufacturers.
Key facts
- Theaster Gates acquired Pickard China, the last fine china manufacturer in the U.S., for an undisclosed sum.
- Pickard China was founded in 1893 by Wilder Pickard and is based in Antioch, Illinois, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago.
- The company has 12 full-time staff and its current output is roughly a quarter of its 1970s peak.
- Pickard's clients include the White House, U.S. embassies, luxury hotels, private jets, golf clubs, and Williams-Sonoma.
- Andy Pickard Morgan, in charge since 2006, asked Gates to buy the business as he approached retirement and no family member wanted to take over.
- Gates was introduced to Pickard by Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker while working on a homewares project with Prada.
- Gates plans to build a management team, guide creative strategy, and address urgent repairs including a new roof and HVAC system.
- Pickard's main competitor, Lenox, was sold to a private investment firm in 2020 and moved production to Asia and Europe.
Entities
Artists
- Theaster Gates
- Wilder Pickard
- David Drake
- Michael Smith
- Michelle Obama
- Barack Obama
- MK Pritzker
- Andy Pickard Morgan
- Rachael Keeling
- David Nosko
- Ken Mehta
- Linda Johnson Rice
- Philip Scranton
- Jennifer Vanasco
- Clare Lombard
- Chloee Weiner
- Danielle Scruggs
Institutions
- Pickard China
- NPR
- Wedgwood
- White House
- Williams-Sonoma
- Prada
- Gagosian Gallery
- Johnson Publishing
- Ebony
- Jet
- Stony Island Arts Bank
- Rutgers University
- University of Chicago
- Lenox
- City of Chicago
Locations
- Antioch
- Illinois
- United States
- Chicago
- Stoke-on-Trent
- United Kingdom
- New York
- Asia
- Europe