Description:

President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan Spectacular 1981 Porcelain Battersea Box

A designer hand-painted enamel Battersea Box owned and used by the Reagans in the White House as well as in their Bel Air Mansion. The underside of the lid is inscribed "A Year to Remember", and the top of the lid is hand painted with an elaborate floral basket having the date "1981", the first year of Reagan's presidency. The manufacturer is obscured by the green tag applied by Nancy Reagan to the bottom which was the method with which she identified the piece as having been used in the White House. Accompanied by a Christie's lot sticker and a University Archives authentication tag numbered and signed by John Reznikoff. Measuring 2" x 1.5" x 1". Fine condition.

A lovely, very personal, and historically important piece, owned and displayed by the Reagans both in the White House and in their home in Bel Air. Nancy was very particular about her surroundings and her flair for decorating, entertaining, and hosting transformed the style and sophistication of the White House. “She felt the White House should exemplify the best,” said Mark Weinberg, who worked on Ronald Reagan’s campaigns, in the White House Press Office. The Reagans were also ardent collectors, and Nancy loved to display their collections. The love for lavish pill boxes was apparent as they had them prominently arranged on a table as can be seen in the image shown.

The 2016 Reagan auction saw record prices for a celebrity including about $200,000 for cowboy boots and $100,000 for a sheet of Presidential doodles. A group of pill boxes was purchased with the hopes that individual items could be offered, to share something intimate, private, and Presidential with clients who might not wish to own a large group. The Catalog description at Christie's left out the information about the historic inscriptions. Certainly among the first and most lasting gifts the President and First Lady received.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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February 21, 2024 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000