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Antique Dessert Sets

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Set of Twelve Derby "Derby Lily" Cobalt Blue and Gold Soup Bowls and Plates
Set of Twelve Derby "Derby Lily" Cobalt Blue and Gold Soup Bowls and Plates

Set of Twelve Derby "Derby Lily" Cobalt Blue and Gold Soup Bowls and Plates

By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain

Located in Great Barrington, MA

sauce) or a composed dessert. The set of 12 bowls with the matching soup tureen makes the perfect

Category

19th Century British Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain, Paste

Set of Coalport Plates, Apple Green with Flowers by F. Howard, 1900-1920
Set of Coalport Plates, Apple Green with Flowers by F. Howard, 1900-1920

Set of Coalport Plates, Apple Green with Flowers by F. Howard, 1900-1920

By Coalport Porcelain

Located in London, GB

This is a very stunning set of two dessert plates and a serving dish made by Coalport some time

Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Of 19th Century Porcelain Painted Plaques Of Killarney Lakes & Sligo Abbey
Pair Of 19th Century Porcelain Painted Plaques Of Killarney Lakes & Sligo Abbey

Pair Of 19th Century Porcelain Painted Plaques Of Killarney Lakes & Sligo Abbey

By Coalport Porcelain

Located in Dublin, IE

remained until about 1926. Birbeck painted many fine sets of dessert and service plates for the North

Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

19th c. Hand Blown Amethyst Crystal Stemware Service
19th c. Hand Blown Amethyst Crystal Stemware Service

19th c. Hand Blown Amethyst Crystal Stemware Service

Located in Great Barrington, MA

, 10 wine goblets, 11 footed desserts and a set of 12 wine rinsers which are priced seperately.

Category

19th Century English Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Crystal

Cocktail or Champagne Glasses, ca. Early 20th Century
Cocktail or Champagne Glasses, ca. Early 20th Century

Cocktail or Champagne Glasses, ca. Early 20th Century

Located in New York, NY

. Glasses could also be used to serve dessert. A great set for summer or holiday entertaining. Each

Category

Early 20th Century American Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Glass

12 Salviati Venetian Amethyst Champagne/Compotes with Gold Leaf Inclusions
12 Salviati Venetian Amethyst Champagne/Compotes with Gold Leaf Inclusions

12 Salviati Venetian Amethyst Champagne/Compotes with Gold Leaf Inclusions

By Salviati

Located in Great Barrington, MA

glass as well as an intermezzo or dessert. The striking color sets the tone for a cheerful, Springtime

Category

1920s Italian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Glass

12 Bodley "Aesthetic Movement" Hand Painted Peacock Plates
12 Bodley "Aesthetic Movement" Hand Painted Peacock Plates

12 Bodley "Aesthetic Movement" Hand Painted Peacock Plates

Located in Great Barrington, MA

A unique and possibly one of a kind, set of 12 dessert plates, each one is decorated with hand

Category

19th Century English Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain, Paste

12 Antique English Soup Bowls, Raised Gilt Encrusted Collars and Shaped Edge
12 Antique English Soup Bowls, Raised Gilt Encrusted Collars and Shaped Edge

12 Antique English Soup Bowls, Raised Gilt Encrusted Collars and Shaped Edge

By Royal Doulton

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A great set from Royal Doulton, England Circa 1910 and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age

Category

1910s English Belle Époque Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Gold

19th Century French Solid Silver Chinoiserie Ewers, Veyrat, Paris, circa 1830
19th Century French Solid Silver Chinoiserie Ewers, Veyrat, Paris, circa 1830

19th Century French Solid Silver Chinoiserie Ewers, Veyrat, Paris, circa 1830

By Jean Francois Veyrat

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Antique early 19th century French exquisite and rare solid silver set of three dessert wine ewers

Category

19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver

Pair of Antique First Period French Empire Centerpiece Tazzas or Fruit Compotes
Pair of Antique First Period French Empire Centerpiece Tazzas or Fruit Compotes

Pair of Antique First Period French Empire Centerpiece Tazzas or Fruit Compotes

By Old Paris

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

dessert stands. This fine set of two pieces feature elegant and beautifully cast women angels supporting

Category

1820s French Empire Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Gold

Antique Victorian Solid Silver Figural Comports, Hunt & Roskell, circa 1874
Antique Victorian Solid Silver Figural Comports, Hunt & Roskell, circa 1874

Antique Victorian Solid Silver Figural Comports, Hunt & Roskell, circa 1874

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

guineas. The pair is part of a set of four dessert dishes flanking the central piece, and the set was

Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver

18-Piece Regency Dessert Set
18-Piece Regency Dessert Set

18-Piece Regency Dessert Set

Located in San Francisco, CA

An 18-piece English Regency period porcelain and gilt dessert set consisting of a pair of covered

Category

1820s English Regency Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Coalport Dessert Set
19th Century Coalport Dessert Set

19th Century Coalport Dessert Set

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Hand painted English dessert set with three compotes and 9 dessert or luncheon plates. The plates

Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Early 19th Century Staffordshire Dessert Set
Early 19th Century Staffordshire Dessert Set

Early 19th Century Staffordshire Dessert Set

Located in Litchfield, CT

Circa 1840s, England. This gorgeous mid-nineteenth-century Staffordshire dessert set features hand

Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Complete Mother Of Pearl and Silver Boxed Dessert Set
Complete Mother Of Pearl and Silver Boxed Dessert Set

Complete Mother Of Pearl and Silver Boxed Dessert Set

Located in Great Barrington, MA

This a complete presentation of a gorgeous dessert set. It includes 12 knives (8.25") 12 forks (7

Category

Early 20th Century English Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Art Deco Sterling Silver & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1929
Art Deco Sterling Silver & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1929

Art Deco Sterling Silver & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1929

By Cooper Brothers & Sons

Located in London, London

& Sterling Silver Dessert Set, is plain in design, and is presented in its original box. Each knife

Category

1920s English Art Deco Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Silver, Silver Plate & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1912
Antique Silver, Silver Plate & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1912

Antique Silver, Silver Plate & Mother Of Pearl Dessert Set - Sheffield 1912

By John Biggin

Located in London, London

Made in Sheffield in 1912 by John Biggin, this stylish, Antique Silver Plated Dessert Set

Category

1910s English Edwardian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

19th Century Austrian Porcelain Tea and Dessert Set Ernst Wahliss
19th Century Austrian Porcelain Tea and Dessert Set Ernst Wahliss

19th Century Austrian Porcelain Tea and Dessert Set Ernst Wahliss

By Ernst Wahliss

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Extensive set of Wien Austrain porcelain tea set by Ernst Wahliss. Delicate hand gilt and painted

Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Mintons Pink and Blanc de Chine Dessert Set for Six Raised Leaf and Gold
Mintons Pink and Blanc de Chine Dessert Set for Six Raised Leaf and Gold

Mintons Pink and Blanc de Chine Dessert Set for Six Raised Leaf and Gold

By Minton

Located in Great Barrington, MA

What a fabulous dessert service for six! This set consists of 21 pieces including service for six

Category

Early 20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

English 19th Century Hand-Painted Scenic and Botanical Dessert Set
English 19th Century Hand-Painted Scenic and Botanical Dessert Set

English 19th Century Hand-Painted Scenic and Botanical Dessert Set

By Coalport Porcelain

Located in Great Barrington, MA

This 19th century hand-painted complete dessert service is decorated with a soft "caramel" border

Category

1860s English Antique Dessert Sets

Antique English Pottery Dessert Set with Centerpiece by Ridgway Circa 1825
Antique English Pottery Dessert Set with Centerpiece by Ridgway Circa 1825

Antique English Pottery Dessert Set with Centerpiece by Ridgway Circa 1825

By William Ridgway

Located in Katonah, NY

This lovely pottery dessert service was made in England by William Ridgway circa 1825. The set

Category

Early 19th Century English Country Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Pottery

19th Century Derby Cobalt Blue 14-Piece Dessert Set "Daisy" Patter
19th Century Derby Cobalt Blue 14-Piece Dessert Set "Daisy" Patter

19th Century Derby Cobalt Blue 14-Piece Dessert Set "Daisy" Patter

By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain

Located in Great Barrington, MA

This set of 12 dessert plates and two matching square cake plates look as if they have never been

Category

19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Dessert Set Dresden Hand Painted Plates Footed Cups circa 1880
Antique Dessert Set Dresden Hand Painted Plates Footed Cups circa 1880

Antique Dessert Set Dresden Hand Painted Plates Footed Cups circa 1880

By Richard Wehsner 1

Located in Austin, TX

Spectacular porcelain Dresden hand painted set featuring 10 dessert plates, 10 footed cups and 10

Category

Late 19th Century German Other Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Set of Mehun Porcelain Pots de Creme With Serving Tray
19th Century Set of Mehun Porcelain Pots de Creme With Serving Tray

19th Century Set of Mehun Porcelain Pots de Creme With Serving Tray

Located in Fayetteville, AR

This pot de creme dessert set will bring elegance and refinement to the table as the French do so

Category

1880s French Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl Fruit / Dessert Cutlery Service
Antique Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl Fruit / Dessert Cutlery Service

Antique Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl Fruit / Dessert Cutlery Service

By Harrods Ltd (Richard Woodman Burbridge)

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

fruit / dessert service for twelve persons, a twenty four piece set, boxed; an addition to our dining

Category

1910s English Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Set of 12 Dessert Cups
Set of 12 Dessert Cups

Set of 12 Dessert Cups

By Whiting Manufacturing Company

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Presented here is a lovely set of 12 dessert cups. Dainty garlands and medallions are etched around

Category

1910s American Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of Antique Porcelain Dessert Dishes
Set of Antique Porcelain Dessert Dishes

Set of Antique Porcelain Dessert Dishes

By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain

Located in Katonah, NY

A set of 18th century derby dishes decorated with cornflower sprigs of red, blue and gilt. The

Category

Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Eight French Chinoiserie Dessert Plates
Set of Eight French Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

Set of Eight French Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

By Balleroy Freres

Located in New York, NY

Set of eight Chinese red, gilt & silver gilt chinoiserie dessert plates, Balleroy Freres. Limoges

Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Dessert Sets

Creamware Openwork Dessert Plates, Set of Seven
Creamware Openwork Dessert Plates, Set of Seven

Creamware Openwork Dessert Plates, Set of Seven

Located in Downingtown, PA

Set of Seven Continental Creamware Openwork Dessert Plates The basketweave creamware plates have

Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Creamware, Pottery

Set of Ten Bohemian Porcelain Dessert Plates
Set of Ten Bohemian Porcelain Dessert Plates

Set of Ten Bohemian Porcelain Dessert Plates

Located in New York, NY

Japan pattern dessert plates incised Vienna beehive mark under the glaze, circa 1840. Inscribed

Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Massive Antique Silver Flatware Set for 24, Austrian, 376 Pieces
Massive Antique Silver Flatware Set for 24, Austrian, 376 Pieces

Massive Antique Silver Flatware Set for 24, Austrian, 376 Pieces

Located in Litchfield, CT

Bowl Dessert Sets (2 pieces) 2 – Gilt Bowl Serving Spoons 2 – Serving Spoons with Square Bowls 1 – Oval

Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Georgian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver

Set of Six 1830s Old English Dessert Spoons
Set of Six 1830s Old English Dessert Spoons

Set of Six 1830s Old English Dessert Spoons

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

1833 & 1838, London, Set of 6 old English sterling silver dessert spoons. Five by James Hobbs, 1833

Category

1830s Other Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Limoges Porcelain Set of 12 Dessert Plates
Antique Limoges Porcelain Set of 12 Dessert Plates

Antique Limoges Porcelain Set of 12 Dessert Plates

Located in LA CIOTAT, FR

A set of 12 stylish dessert plates in delicate white Limoges porcelain, each piece edged with a

Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Ridgway J. Victorian Ironstone Ceramic Dessert Plate Set
Ridgway J. Victorian Ironstone Ceramic Dessert Plate Set

Ridgway J. Victorian Ironstone Ceramic Dessert Plate Set

Located in Prato, Tuscany

the late 19th century. The Ridgways made tea sets, desserts, and various items of that type of durable

Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Ironstone

Set of Ten Antique Green Majolica Dessert Dishes
Set of Ten Antique Green Majolica Dessert Dishes

Set of Ten Antique Green Majolica Dessert Dishes

Located in Katonah, NY

A set of ten 19th century English Majolica plates colored with a green glaze. The impressed design

Category

1870s English High Victorian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Majolica

Set of Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates
Set of Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

Set of Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

By Booth's

Located in New York, NY

Set of ten English "Real Old Willow" pattern dessert plates in deep blue and white with gilded

Category

Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Dessert Sets

Set of Four Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates
Set of Four Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

Set of Four Gilded Blue and White Chinoiserie Dessert Plates

By Booth's

Located in New York, NY

Set of four gilded blue and white chinoiserie dessert plates. Set of four English "Real Old Willow

Category

Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Circa 1870-75 Set of 6 Comstock Pattern Dessert Spoons
Circa 1870-75 Set of 6 Comstock Pattern Dessert Spoons

Circa 1870-75 Set of 6 Comstock Pattern Dessert Spoons

By W. K. Vanderslice & Company

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1870-75 set of 6 sterling silver dessert spoons by W.K. Vanderslice, San Francisco, Comstock

Category

1870s Other Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of 10 Art Deco Salviati Gold Inclusion Dessert Plates
Set of 10 Art Deco Salviati Gold Inclusion Dessert Plates

Set of 10 Art Deco Salviati Gold Inclusion Dessert Plates

By Salviati

Located in Dallas, TX

PRESENTING a GORGEOUS Set of 10 Art Deco Salviati Gold Inclusion Dessert Plates. Made in Venice

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Gold

Set of Flight Barr Barr Worcester Porcelain Dessert Dishes & Compote
Set of Flight Barr Barr Worcester Porcelain Dessert Dishes & Compote

Set of Flight Barr Barr Worcester Porcelain Dessert Dishes & Compote

By Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

A set of 4 armorial dessert dishes and 1 compote, made circa 1820 by the Worcester Porcelain

Category

Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Wedgwood Nautilus Pattern Pearlware Seashell Dessert Plates- Set of 14
Wedgwood Nautilus Pattern Pearlware Seashell Dessert Plates- Set of 14

Wedgwood Nautilus Pattern Pearlware Seashell Dessert Plates- Set of 14

By Wedgwood

Located in Downingtown, PA

Wedgwood Nautilus pattern pearlware dessert plates- set of 14 (Fourteen) circa 1800-20 The

Category

Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Pearlware, Pottery

Circa 1830 Assembled Set of 8 Blue Canton Dessert Plates
Circa 1830 Assembled Set of 8 Blue Canton Dessert Plates

Circa 1830 Assembled Set of 8 Blue Canton Dessert Plates

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1830 assembled set of 8 Blue Canton dessert plates, Chinese. Some rim nicks & wear typical of

Category

1830s Chinese Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Eight Gilt and Green Painted Spode Dessert Plates
Set of Eight Gilt and Green Painted Spode Dessert Plates

Set of Eight Gilt and Green Painted Spode Dessert Plates

By Spode

Located in New York, NY

Eight Spode plates in the bamboo and rock pattern #1653; printed in black and painted in translucent green with gilding, England, circa 1810-8120. Diameter: 8.5" D x 1" H.

Category

Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Dessert Sets

A Set of Dishes: A Wedgwood Part Dessert Service with Butterflies
A Set of Dishes: A Wedgwood Part Dessert Service with Butterflies

A Set of Dishes: A Wedgwood Part Dessert Service with Butterflies

By Wedgwood

Located in Katonah, NY

shaped dessert dishes, and a pair of oval shell shaped serving dishes (6pcs). The raised cake stand set

Category

19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique Dessert Sets

Set of 10 Dessert Plates White and Gold, Limoges France, Antique
Set of 10 Dessert Plates White and Gold, Limoges France, Antique

Set of 10 Dessert Plates White and Gold, Limoges France, Antique

By Charles Ahrenfeldt

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A pretty set of white and gold plates to go with all your fine porcelain tabletop. This set by

Category

1890s French Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Gold

Set of Four Antique English Coalport Porcelain Luncheon or Dessert Plates
Set of Four Antique English Coalport Porcelain Luncheon or Dessert Plates

Set of Four Antique English Coalport Porcelain Luncheon or Dessert Plates

By Coalport Porcelain

Located in CHARLESTON, SC

Set of four exceptional antique English hand-painted porcelain luncheon/dessert plates in the

Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Twelve Silver & Mother of Pearl Dessert Knives and Forks
Set of Twelve Silver & Mother of Pearl Dessert Knives and Forks

Set of Twelve Silver & Mother of Pearl Dessert Knives and Forks

By Frederick C. Asman

Located in Montreal, QC

Set of twelve silver dessert/fruit knives and forks with mother of pearl handles, in original blue

Category

Early 20th Century English Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Silver

19th Century Rose Medallion Chinese Export Dessert Plate Set of Four
19th Century Rose Medallion Chinese Export Dessert Plate Set of Four

19th Century Rose Medallion Chinese Export Dessert Plate Set of Four

Located in Savannah, GA

Set of four Chinese export late Qing period rose medallion dessert plates featuring traditional

Category

1850s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Set of 8 Sterling Silver & Crystal Champagne Coup or Dessert Glasses
Set of 8 Sterling Silver & Crystal Champagne Coup or Dessert Glasses

Set of 8 Sterling Silver & Crystal Champagne Coup or Dessert Glasses

By Wallace Silversmiths

Located in New York, NY

Set of 8 Available Here for $950 A beautiful vintage set of eight (8) sterling silver and cut

Category

Early 20th Century American Antique Dessert Sets

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

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Antique Dessert Sets For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of antique dessert sets is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, ceramic and silver, all antique dessert sets available were constructed with great care. There are all kinds of antique dessert sets available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique dessert sets made by Rococo designers — as well as those associated with Art Nouveau — are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique dessert sets are appealing in their simplicity, but Emile Puiforcat, Meissen Porcelain and Wedgwood produced popular antique dessert sets that are worth a look.

How Much are Antique Dessert Sets?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $1,450, while they’re typically $62 on the low end and $55,000 highest priced.

Finding the Right Dining-entertaining for You

Your dining room table is a place where stories are shared and personalities shine — why not treat yourself and your guests to the finest antique and vintage glass, silver, ceramics and serveware for your meals?

Just like the people who sit around your table, your serveware has its own stories and will help you create new memories with your friends and loved ones. From ceramic pottery to glass vases, set your table with serving pieces that add even more personality, color and texture to your dining experience.

Invite serveware from around the world to join your table settings. For special occasions, dress up your plates with a striking Imari charger from 19th-century Japan or incorporate Richard Ginori’s Italian porcelain plates into your dining experience. Celebrate the English ritual of afternoon tea with a Japanese tea set and an antique Victorian kettle. No matter how big or small your dining area is, there is room for the stories of many cultures and varied histories, and there are plenty of ways to add pizzazz to your meals.

Add different textures and colors to your table with dinner plates and pitchers of ceramic and silver or a porcelain lidded tureen, a serving dish with side handles that is often used for soups. Although porcelain and ceramic are both made in a kiln, porcelain is made with more refined clay and is more durable than ceramic because it is denser. The latter is ideal for statement pieces — your tall mid-century modern ceramic vase is a guaranteed conversation starter. And while your earthenware or stoneware is maybe better suited to everyday lunches as opposed to the fine bone china you’ve reserved for a holiday meal, handcrafted studio pottery coffee mugs can still be a rich expression of your personal style.

“My motto is ‘Have fun with it,’” says author and celebrated hostess Stephanie Booth Shafran. “It’s yin and yang, high and low, Crate & Barrel with Christofle silver. I like to mix it up — sometimes in the dining room, sometimes on the kitchen banquette, sometimes in the loggia. It transports your guests and makes them feel more comfortable and relaxed.”

Introduce elegance at supper with silver, such as a platter from celebrated Massachusetts silversmith manufacturer Reed and Barton or a regal copper-finish flatware set designed by International Silver Company, another New England company that was incorporated in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1898. By then, Meriden had already earned the nickname “Silver City” for its position as a major hub of silver manufacturing.

At the bar, try a vintage wine cooler to keep bottles cool before serving or an Art Deco decanter and whiskey set for after-dinner drinks — there are many possibilities and no wrong answers for tableware, barware and serveware. Explore an expansive collection of antique and vintage glass, ceramics, silver and serveware today on 1stDibs.

Questions About Antique Dessert Sets
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 5, 2024
    To identify an antique tea set, look closely to determine who the manufacturer is. Locate the hallmark on the bottom of a saucer, teapot or cup. A maker’s mark on one of these items is the best indicator of the set’s origin. If you snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet, you can conduct a reverse image search to jump-start your research. Professionals recommend consulting auction catalogs, books and trusted online resources such as museum exhibition materials. With some research, you may be able to match the marking to the manufacturer's name and, from there, identify the pattern and age. 

    In 17th-century England, Chinese tea began to arrive at ports in London. Mass production of porcelain tea sets took place in the 18th century, and during the early 1800s, tea became widely affordable, and the concept of teatime took shape all over England

    Reputable soft-paste porcelain makers include Sèvres, Capodimonte and Chelsea, while Meissen was the first European maker of hard-paste porcelain. Bone china manufactories of note include Spode, Minton and Derby, which was later called the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.

    Generally, a tea set is considered vintage if it’s at least 20 years old, while antiques are at least 100 years old. Although a maker’s mark is generally a helpful indicator of a given manufacturer, forgeries have occurred over the years. Look for other signifiers of a material, time period or style if you are uncertain of your piece’s origin. For help with identification, seek out a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer.

    Find antique tea sets on 1stDibs.