Wilder Pickard began Pickard China in 1893 in Edgerton, Wisconsin. At the beginning of the 20th century the company was moved to Chicago where they created hand painted art pieces and dessert and tea sets. Austin Pickard, Wilder?s son, joined the company in the late 1920?s and began experimenting in the development of fine china dinnerware. The company was then moved to Antioch, Illinois, in 1930 and in 1937 created the warm white china with the Lion trademark.

Pete Pickard, third generation of the Pickard family, succeeded Austin as President of the company in 1966 until his retirement in 1994, when his brother-in-law, Eben Morgan, took over. Andy Pickard Morgan, Eben?s son, joined the company in 2001 as the fourth generation of the family business, and has been the company President since 2006.

Pickard is the only manufacturer of fine china in America. Each piece of china passes through at least 21 stages and three 100% inspections and all patterns are decorated with 24K gold, platinum and cobalt.

Pickard was chosen by Laura Bush and Michelle Obama to create the official White House china services and they have also produced the official US Department of State china services in all the US Embassies and Consulates across the world. Pickard China has also produced custom china for Air Force One and Camp David.