In the spring of 1999, McLaughlin was commissioned by the First Lady, Hillary Clinton, to create a box of the White House in a limited edition of 50 to be given as official gifts to the dignitaries attending the NATO meeting in Washington D.C. She has joined the ranks of American artisans such as Steuben Glass and Lenox as official gift of the Government. You can view her works on the McLaughlin Page. Two events in the enamels world which has given rise to the quality of workmanship: Ian Marshall, former head of production and founder of Bilston & Battersea Enamels, launched his company known as Marshall Enamels in September renamed it in 2001 to The Ian Marshall Collection. Examples of his work can be found on the Marshall Enamels page. He has managed to recapture the fine enamel painting that was known in the earlier days of the revival period. Marshall Enamels was acquired and absorbed into Staffordshire Enamels in 2002 Marshall began a second retirement from the industry. Moorcroft Pottery purchased the small family firm of Kingsley Enamels in Worcestershire and changed their name to Moorcroft Enamels. They disbanded with most of the Kingsley range to create a new look in enamels. They have introduced a Lilliputian range of enamel vases in different shapes and have recreated a number of world famous Moorcroft pottery designs. They have also introduced a range of free hand painted enamel boxes and vases that has raised the level of the art of enamels. The free hand range is a stunning exercise in craftsmanship and detail and one can only marvel at the finished product. Moorcroft announced as of January 2006 they would cease their enamel division. 2006 marks a rebirth of the tradition begun by Kingsley and continued by Moorcroft. Having grown up with the enamel business, Elliot Kingsley Hall has experience in every aspect of the enamel making process. Having worked in the family business, Kingsley Enamels, he was made managing director of Moorcroft Enamels after they purchased the former company. He was the innovative driving force to develop freehand painted boxes and miniature vases. Too young to retire, Elliott turned to the only career he has known and reassembled some of his top painters to create a new range of freehand painted boxes. The new company making début June 2006, is aptly named Elliot Hall Enamels. Cameron & Smith Ltd. was formed in the fall of 1990 by collectors Patricia and Bob Smith to deal exclusively in Enamel Boxes. Realizing that there was no structured secondary market for the revival boxes created by Halcyon Days, they decided to concentrate in this area by helping collectors acquire those boxes they desired. To those of you surfing this website that are unfamiliar with enamel boxes, their origin date back to the mid 18th century in England. The boxes are enamel on copper shapes, however there was a marriage of enamel and porcelain in boxes known as Chelsea Bonbonnières (figural pieces). Cameron & Smith Ltd lost one of their beloved owner/collectors on July 29th, 2011. This year after Bob’s passing has been long and difficult, but Patricia Smith and daughter, Melinda Smith, have maintained the business. They have reorganized and restructured many aspects in order to continue serving you. FOR ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE "THE FIRST 25 YEARS OF HALCYON DAYS ENAMELS" a book by Susan Benjamin, was published in 1995 with almost 600 colour illustrations. This is the collector's bible for the revival pieces. 

The Revival of the Enamel Box continued

1997, the first known American enameller appeared on the scene. Mary McLaughlin launched her range of hand painted enamels featuring the greater Chicago area, her home-town. She has steadily expanded her horizons and now has a series of boxes featuring moments of leisure, and her prized series "Christmas In American Cities." While the early Halcyon Days boxes are reminiscent of a fine oil painting, McLaughlin's works are truer to a fine watercolour. One of her trademarks has become the painting of a scene inside the bottom of the base.