[1] The WAAC formed a Ceramic Committee, which pulled together photographs and drawings of old forts, battlefields and other historical scenes.

A competition of Canadian ceramic artists was held, and the work was divided among them "according to their individual proficiency in the painting of various subjects.

[4] Mary Ella Dignam, first president of the Women's Art Association of Canada, was the driving force behind production of the dinner service.

[6] The dinner service for eight courses with 24 place settings was to commemorate the 400th anniversary in 1897 of John Cabot's discovery of Canada.

Thompson, "our object was to get nothing but the best, for we want our State Set to be as near perfect as possible ... Sir Henry Doulton has taken quite an interest in our State Set and has given us the only plain china with the red factory mark that has ever left the factory to be decorated, and has sent us their best china and at the lowest price .

"[4] Mary E. Dignam wrote to Alice Egan that the blanks would cost $6.60 a dozen to the artist.

[13][14] The dinner plates show historic landscapes, and also include the heraldic shield of the province in the border design.

[10] Margaret Irvine of Toronto and Martha Logan, originally from Hartford, Connecticut, each painted twelve of the dinner plates.

[10] Alice M. Judd of Hamilton and Margaret McClung of St. Catharines each painted twelve of the dessert plates.

[1] It was called "a most valuable and interesting work on a large scale, accomplished by the most representative talent in the Dominion ... it is hoped that it will be accepted by the government and placed where it may be seen and studied and preserved to mark the first era in ceramics in Canada.

They arranged for the service to be bought at the artists' prices by private subscriptions from members of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada.

On 13 June 1898 the service was formally presented by the members to Lady Aberdeen after the end of the term of her husband as Governor General.

[28]The service was shipped to Scotland and placed on display in Haddo House, home of the Countess and Earl of Aberdeen.