We wish to thank Arthur Levin, fellow member of the Haviland Collectors International Foundation for sharing his vast expertise and historical accounts regarding the reissued Presidential Fish Set of Rutherford B. Hayes. Mr. Levin states: "In order to try to make back some of the money that Haviland lost on the original Hayes set, Haviland later decided to use the same transfers that were used on the original Hayes set on other blanks, then they were offered for sale to the general public. When they did this, they reversed the transfers, so that all of the decorations on the pieces face in the opposite direction than they did on the original Hayes set. The original set consisted of 12 plates and the platter."
This is truly a wonderful set; pictures can not do it justice! All the pieces have a wonderful light cream background. The rim design has bright yellow flowers on deep brown stems. The flowers have been accented with raised enamel giving them a nice three dimensional look. We believe this to be Schleiger pattern # 944. It is illustrated in "Two Hundred Patterns of Haviland China, Book V " by Arlene Schleiger on page 37. The rectangular platter has wonderful raised relief scroll designs criss-crossed over each with berries and leaves; all have been enriched with gold. The main motif of the platter is a wonderful hand painted Shad. It has been done in tones of brown, gray, yellow and white. The background around the fish has wonderful golden tones mixed with the browns tying it in nicely with the floral rim decorations. The eight plates have been factory decorated with wonderful sepia transfers. The 8 fish species include black bass, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, sheep head, red snapper, pompano, terrapin turtle and fighting lobsters. The sauce dish has a transfer of a blue fish.
Photos of the plates are shown in the Official White House China book by Margaret Brown Klapthor.
The platter and five of the plates are problem free and in excellent condition. Other pieces and condition: The sauce boat underplate has three small chips: two on the edge of the rim (1/4" x 3/8" and 1/4" x 1/8") and one on the foot rim (3/8" x 1/8"). The turtle plate has a hairline. The Speckled Trout plate has two small chips and a hairline. The Black Bass also has a flaw. We will send you additional pics upon request.

Backstamp: H & Co over L / H & Co over Depose Haviland & Co Limoges in green circle

Measurement: Platter 22" x 8-3/8" x 1-1/2" ~Sauce boat with attached under plate 8" x 5-1/4" x 2-3/4" ~eight plates (8-1/4").