In 1921, the House Restaurant turned to well-known local proprietors Dulin and Martin Co., Inc., for new custom dishware. The shop, which had operated in Washington, D.C., since the mid-19th century, contracted with Shenango China of New Castle, Pennsylvania, to get the job done. At the time, Shenango specialized in durable vitrified china, which enjoyed popularity with hotels and restaurants. Each plate’s edge is decorated with a vignette of the Capitol as it appeared in the 1840s.
