Kutani Tea Set
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Japanese Modern Tea Sets
Porcelain, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Tea Sets
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Japanese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tea Sets
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Tea Sets
Gold
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Ceramics
Porcelain
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Tea Sets
Gold
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tea Sets
Porcelain
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tea Sets
Ceramic, Porcelain, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Tea Sets
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Victorian Tea Sets
Gold
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.
- What is a Bavaria tea set?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Bavaria tea set is a tea set that was crafted in the Bavaria region of Germany. This region is renowned for its exceptionally fine porcelain. Pieces are often painted by hand, giving each one a unique style. Shop a range of Bavaria tea sets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
- What is the best tea set?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021There are many types of tea sets available. You may wish to have a small tea service if your needs are modest. 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.A tea set best suited for you may depend on a variety of factors. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage tea sets.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Japanese teapot is called a kyusus, while the everyday drinking glasses for tea are called yunomi. For more formal occasions, a chawan tea bowl is used. You can shop a range of antique and vintage Japanese tea sets from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024To identify vintage tea sets, first determine who the maker is. Locate the brand stamp or hallmark on one of the pieces. If you snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet, you can conduct a reverse image search to jump-start your research. By using trusted online resources, you can match the marking to the manufacturer's name and, from there, identify the pattern and age. Generally, a tea set must have been produced between 20 and 99 years ago to be considered vintage. For help with identification, seek out a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Find a selection of vintage tea sets on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To identify an antique tea set, look for hallmarks on the bottoms of the pieces. Handwritten markings indicate a set produced prior to the 19th century. You can also research the pattern to get a rough idea of when the maker manufactured it. Shop a range of expertly vetted antique tea sets on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The pieces in a silver tea set vary. Most sets include at least four pieces: a spirit burner, a teapot, a cream pitcher and a sugar bowl. Some sets also contain a matching coffee pot or a small serving spoon for the sugar bowl. Find a range of antique and vintage silver tea sets on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021The value of a sterling silver tea set is based on age, maker, and the pieces included. A set can start at $1,000, but the value can be a wide range. If it is sterling, it should have a hallmark of .925. This indicates that the piece is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper alloy. The more pieces in the set, the more it is likely to be worth in some cases. Find a collection of antique and vintage sterling silver tea sets on 1stDibs today.
- Are silver tea sets safe to use?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Silver is a chemically non-reactive metal, so as long as the tea set is clean and has been properly cared for, it is safe to use. However, silver is an excellent conductor of heat, so be careful not to burn your lips or tongue whilst drinking tea. Shop a collection of authentic silver tea sets from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Silver tea sets can range in value depending on a variety of factors. A silver-plated tea set is not usually very high value, though certain pieces and who the maker is plays a large role. A sterling silver set can be worth at least $1000.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A basic sterling silver tea set costs around $1,000. However, the older the set is, the more expensive it will be. Some antique silver tea sets are worth up to $400,000.
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