Antique Teapots And Tea Sets
Early 20th Century Japanese Other Tea Sets
Ceramic
Antique 18th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 18th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 18th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique 19th Century Country Tea Sets
Copper
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique Late 19th Century British Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique 1870s American Victorian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique 1880s Victorian Tea Sets
Pewter
Antique 17th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Indian Tea Sets
Silver
Early 20th Century Edwardian Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Ceramic, Porcelain
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique 1830s William IV Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Tea Sets
Silver
Early 20th Century English Queen Anne Tea Sets
Silver
Antique 1820s German Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Edwardian Tea Sets
Ceramic
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Copper, Enamel
Antique 1710s Dutch Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Enamel, Copper
Antique 1820s Dutch Tea Sets
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century Scottish Georgian Tea Sets
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Tea Sets
Enamel, Copper
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Tea Sets
Ceramic
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique Early 19th Century Early Victorian Tea Sets
Ceramic
Antique 1840s British Victorian Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s Latvian Neoclassical Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Edwardian Tea Sets
Ceramic
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Tea Sets
Other
Early 20th Century Victorian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Vintage 1920s Iraqi Tea Sets
Silver
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Tea Sets
Metal, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Tea Sets
Metal, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Enamel
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique Early 1900s European Edwardian Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Vintage 1920s English Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Tea Sets
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Tea Sets
Silver
Antique 19th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Pottery
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Tea Sets
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Tea Sets
Silver Plate
Antique 1850s English Victorian Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique 1850s English Victorian Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Tea Sets
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century Chinese Qing Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 17th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Tea Sets
Fabric
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Antique Teapots And Tea Sets For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Teapots And Tea Sets?
Finding the Right Tea-sets for You
Ready to serve high tea and brunch for your family and friends? Start with the right antique, new or vintage tea set.
Tea is a multicultural, multinational beverage and isn’t confined to any particular lifestyle or age group. It has humble beginnings, and one of its best-known origin stories places the first cups of tea in 2700 B.C. in China, where it was recognized for its medicinal properties. Jump ahead to 17th-century England, when Chinese tea began to arrive at ports in London. During the early 1800s, tea became widely affordable, and the concept of teatime took shape all over England. Today, more than 150 million people reportedly drink tea daily in the United States.
Early tea drinkers enjoyed their beverage in a bowl, and English potters eventually added a handle to the porcelain bowls so that burning your fingers became less of a teatime hazard. With the rise in the popularity of teatime, tea sets, also referred to as tea service, became a hot commodity.
During Queen Victoria’s reign, teakettles and coffeepots were added to tea services that were quite large — indeed, small baked goods were served with your drink back then, and a tea set could include many teacups and saucers, a milk pot and other accessories.
During the early 1920s, a sterling-silver full tea service and tray designed by Tiffany & Co. might include a hot-water kettle on a stand, a coffeepot, teapot, a creamer with a small lip spout, a waste bowl and a bowl for sugar, which the British were stirring into tea as early as the 18th century.
But you don’t have to limit your tea set to Victorian or Art Deco styles — shake up teatime with an artful contemporary service. If the bold porcelain cups and saucers by Italian brand Seletti are too unconventional for your otherwise subdued tea circle, find antique services on 1stDibs from Japan, France and other locales as well as vintage mid-century modern tea sets and neoclassical designs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 5, 2024To 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.
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