Free Republic

For a new state china service, First Lady Michelle Obama wanted it to have modern elements, but also for it to be practical, in the sense that it would be complementary to the preceding historic state services. The Obama State China Service consists of eleven-piece place settings for 320. Mrs. Obama sought a different color from the more primary red, green, blue, and yellow used on the more recent state services. She chose a blue inspired by the waters off the President’s home state of Hawai’i, calling it “Kailua Blue.” A fluted band of the Kailua Blue color, framed by...

Niagara Ceramics, the dinnerware manufacturer that was created after the closing of Buffalo China nine years ago, is shutting down, throwing 110 workers out of their jobs. The company announced the shutdown of its sprawling factory at 75 Hayes Place on Monday in a filing with the state Labor Department. Company officials, in the filing, cited “economic” reasons for the closing, which they said was effective immediately. Robert L. Lupica, the former Buffalo China executive and president of Niagara Ceramics, could not be reached to comment. Lupica was part of an investment group headed by Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, that...