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<div align="left">This article is in the Business Section of today's <u>Philadelphia
Inquirer</u><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.philly.com/philly/business/37557754.html">http://www.philly.com/philly/business/37557754.html</a><br>
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<h1>Day of pride, day of uncertainty for Bucks County firm</h1>
<br>
<img src="cid:part1.08040306.08010805@glassblower.info" alt=""><br>
A Lenox tradition is this hand-cut crystal bowl, for President Obama. <br>
<br>
<img src="cid:part2.02050207.02060105@glassblower.info" alt=""
height="398" width="398"><br>
Joe Biden will receive this vice presidential gift: <br>
A hand-cut Lenox
crystal bowl with an etching of the Capital with blooming cherry trees.
<br>
<br>
<p class="byline">By Jane M. Von Bergen </p>
<p class="byline lastline">Inquirer Staff Writer</p>
On Tuesday, bidders for a bankrupt Bucks County maker of fine china
will be looking over the Bristol company's books - and Barack Obama and
Joseph R. Biden Jr. each will receive one of the company's crystal
bowls as one of their first gifts as the nation's new leaders.
<p>It's that kind of day in this kind of economy.</p>
<p>
For the last six inaugurations, <a title="view info" class="gentag_org"
type="org" target="_blank"
href="http://aps1.philly.com/business/cosearch/bizdetails.php?orgcode=3FE2D0E69CAC4C5F98437C0790F136D2">Lenox
Group Inc.</a>, founded 120 years ago, has produced commemorative gifts
for incoming presidents.</p>
<p>
"It's incredibly satisfying to work on a one-of-a-kind piece like
this," said Tim Carder, Lenox's vice president of design. "It's a very
elaborate piece. It's not the kind of thing you would find in the
department store. It's a gallery type of piece."</p>
<p>
The bowls will be given to the nation's new leaders at the luncheon
immediately after the swearing-in ceremonies Tuesday.</p>
<p>
Presented by Congress, the bowls are considered gifts from the American
people.</p>
<p>
Etched on the bowls are important Washington buildings surrounded by
cherry trees in bloom - Obama's features the White House and Biden's,
the Capitol.</p>
<p>
Depending on the angle, the buildings can be viewed straight on, or
seen through the branches of the trees.</p>
<p>
After working on this project for more than 100 hours with master
glass-cutter Peter O'Rourke, Carder handed over the cut and etched
crystal bowls to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural
Ceremonies at an intimate ceremony held on Capitol Hill on Monday.</p>
<p>
The bowls, which cost $2,500 each to make, are about nine inches across
and seven inches high. They weigh about nine pounds and will be
presented in cherry wood boxes handcrafted in New York.</p>
<p>
While Lenox's main manufacturing plant is in Kinston, N.C., the bowls -
imported from Europe - were designed in Bristol and cut and etched at
O'Rourke's studio outside Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>
Lenox's inauguration role comes as the company faces challenges in this
economy.</p>
<p>
Lenox's parent company, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy in November, and its executives are now talking to
potential bidders.</p>
<p>
A final decision is expected by late February or early March, <a
title="view info" class="gentag_exec" type="exec" target="_blank"
href="http://aps1.philly.com/business/cosearch/execdetails.php?execcode=844DE0AF6094434E9FEF00F94FBF5734">Louis
Fantin</a>, the company's general counsel, said.</p>
<p>
"Our products are very popular," <a title="view info"
class="gentag_exec" type="exec" target="_blank"
href="http://aps1.philly.com/business/cosearch/execdetails.php?execcode=844DE0AF6094434E9FEF00F94FBF5734">Fantin</a>
said, "but people have been holding back purchasing them."</p>
<p>
The products have certainly been popular with presidents.</p>
<p>
In 1918, the company said, President Woodrow Wilson commissioned a
1,700-piece set bearing the presidential seal in raised gold.</p>
<p>
Over the years, Lenox has created new state services for five
additional presidents - Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Clinton and George
W. Bush.</p>
<p>
Founded by Walter Scott Lenox in 1889, the company began in Trenton,
then a hub for glass and porcelain manufacturing. These days, corporate
and design functions take place in Bristol, where about 300 are
employed</p>
<p>
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