"Two highly respected names, Lenox and Boehm, each with a world-wide reputation for quality and artistic achievement, have combined to create a new limited issue of plates.   Aptly entitled Woodland Wildlife, each plate captures a fleeting moment in the life of a forest animal."   (from the series flyer)

This was an annually-issued series of ten plates begun in 1973 and concluding in 1982. Each plate is 10 1/2" in diameter and has full color illustrations on a cream background. The artist's name is found on the front near the image. The trim is a deep cobalt blue highlighting a complex design in 24kt gold. Each plate comes with an individual certificate.

Boehm started the Boehm Porcelain Studio in 1950. One of the highlights of his career was making, on commission by the United States of America, a pair of swans with a wingspan of six feet that was the official gift of President Richard M Nixon to Chairman Mao on his historic visit to China in 1972. One of the largest public displays of the studio's creations is at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. Over 150 sculptures are housed in display cabinets.

On the reverse, each plate reads in gold as follows:





The year of release and the plates are:

                                                                     1973      Raccoons
                                                                     1974      Red Foxes
                                                                     1975      Cottontail Rabbits
                                                                     1976      Eastern Chipmunks
                                                                     1977      Beavers
                                                                     1978      Whitetail Deer
                                                                     1979      Squirrels
                                                                     1980      Bobcats
                                                                     1981      Martens
                                                                     1982      River Otters


Besides being displayed in a cabinet or on the wall, this fabulous set could be used as spectacular chargers for a formal dinner gathering. Your guests will tell all of their friends about the beautiful and daring table service they once enjoyed.

If these will spend most of their lives boxed, take them out occasionally with your children for a wipedown. Just forget that they haven't gotten dirty: this is quality time! If you are like me, you already have a pretty good idea who in the family is going to get these someday. As you talk about the plates with that person, they will receive an appreciation for beautiful things and have a better attachment to the plates. Your children or grandchildren will never forget sitting down with you as you talked about these pieces. What would you have given for a moment like that with your Granny?

Be patient. All these plates come up for sale over time. Occasionally, an entire set will become available. Expect to see a premium in the price over that of the total of all the individual plates. The seller is hoping to be compensated additionally for assembling a set that is sometimes very hard to do.

In December 2008, there was a complete set in excellent condition (pictured below) in boxes with COAs offered for $1095.95 on a Buy It Now. During the same time there was a set of nine (9) plates with COAs but no boxes offered for $225 on a Buy It Now. I have no affiliation with either of these vendors.


I am not a dealer and I do not sell.

Ralph Vaughan