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Tea Sets For Sale
Memphis Style Pilamity Teapot by Moller Designs
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage 1980s postmodern stainless steel "Pilamity" teapot by Moller Designs. Great Memphis style design in a conical shape. Black triangular handle and lid with a round red handle...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Stainless Steel
13-Piece Art Deco Tea Set - Limoges Porcelain - White and Gold
By Limoges
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A sweet porcelain tea set, for 10 people, made by the French brand Limoges.
This service was made around 1930, the design has clear Art Deco features.
The color scheme white with gol...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Il Viaggio di Nettuno Pink Mug by GINORI 1735
Located in Milan, IT
Inspired by Luke Edward Hall’s love of Greco-Roman mythology, the collection "Il Viaggio di Nettuno" (Neptune's voyage) represents an unconventio...
Category
2010s Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Sophisticated Black Coffee Set – 6 Cups & Saucers (1970s)
By Arcoroc
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Sophisticated Black Coffee Set – 6 Cups & Saucers (1970s)
This elegant coffee set features six black cups and saucers, each designed with an octagonal shape that reflects mid-centur...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Glass, Opaline Glass
Il Viaggio di Nettuno Sea Blue Mug by Luke Edward Hall by GINORI 1735
Located in Milan, IT
Designed by Luke Edward Hall as a celebration of ancient mythology, this mug is both playful and sophisticated. Crafted of fine porcelain, it depicts the ancient Roman god of the sea...
Category
2010s Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Bone
Minton Rare Set Three Georgian Shell Printed Porcelain Coffee Cups
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare set of three Georgian antique porcelain coffee cups printed with shells by renowned makers Minton and dating from around 1800. The coffee cans are of cylindrical shape with lo...
Category
Early 1800s English Georgian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
John Prip for Reed & Barton Dimension Coffee Service Set
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Dimension service was introduced in 1961; the onion-shaped tea and coffee service in silver plate is a classic design that is currently on display at the Rhode Island School of Desi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Silver, Silver Plate
Vintage Japanese Lithophane Geisha porcelain coffee set Blue Dragon, 1950s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
A magnificent Blue Dragon coffee set: 10 beautiful antique cups and saucers, a coffee pot, a sugar bowl with a lid, and a cream jug.
These beautiful lithophane cups were first create...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
$832 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Traditional Antique Japanese Porcelain Tea Set, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique tea set including tea plates, tea cups and tea. Hand painted in the traditional Japanese style. Made by an unknown manufacturer in Japan. Original Japanese origin s...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
$1,052 Sale Price / item
50% Off
Yates Tea Service, Cobalt Blue, Gilt and Flowers patt. 1038, ca 1825
Located in London, GB
This is beautiful tea service consisting of a teapot with cover, a plate, a slop bowl, four teacups on saucers and four coffee cups on saucers. The service was made by the Yates fact...
Category
1820s English Regency Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Mid-Century German Tea or Coffee Pot by Heinrich Löffelhardt for Arzberg, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century German tea or coffee pot by Heinrich Löffelhardt for Arzberg, 1960s This piece has an attribution mark.
Additional information:
Materials: Porcelain
Color: Blue
Styles: ...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelain cups and saucers from Royal Albert
By Royal Albert
Located in Delft, NL
Porcelain cups and saucers from Royal Albert
A set of eleven porcelain cups and saucers made by Royal Albert, England.
Royal Albert was founded
by Thomas Clark Wild, ca 1894.
The Royal Albert is known for its fine quality Bone China, England
two small cups and saucers of the "Serena" model from before 1977
two cups and saucers, large and small, model Chelsea Bird 1950s-70s
small cup and saucer model "Sweet Violets" 1960s-70s
two cups and saucers small and large from the "Moss Rose" model before the 1960s-70s
small cup and saucer, Model Blue Blossom, 1988
large cup and saucer model "Lady...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Meissen porcelain Rich Court Dragon cups and saucers, Germany 1960s
Located in Delft, NL
Meissen porcelain Rich Court Dragon cups and saucers, Germany 1960s
Meissen porcelain cups and saucers in box with the Rich Court Dragon pattern.
The six p...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Dutch silver Tea service, 1899-1909
Located in Delft, NL
Dutch silver Tea service, 1899-1909
A Dutch silver tea service with Dutch landscapes with floral, leaves with flower motif. The set consists of a teapot, a milk jug and a sugar bowl...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
$3,333 / set
Coffee Tea Service Flash One Dorothy Hafner Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Luxurious porcelain dinnerware set, flash one, by Dorothy Hafner for Rosenthal Studio-Line,
Germany, 1980s.
12x coffee or tea cups.
12x ...
Category
Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
1960's French Ceramic Coffee Set by Alain Maunier
By Vallauris
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible ceramic coffee set made by French ceramic maker Alain Maunier in Vallauris, 1960's. Set includes 1x large coffee pot with lid, 1x sugar bowl with lid, 1x creamer pot witho...
Category
1960s French Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Vienna 19th Century Porcelain Cup and Saucer
Located in Newark, England
Decorated with a Female Portrait
From our Ceramics collection, we are pleased to offer this Vienna Cup and Saucer. The Vienna Cup and Saucer with a brown iridescent glaze decorated ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian High Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique Haviland Limoges France Chocolate Tea Coffee Pot Floral Rose Teapot 10"
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century large Haviland & Co Limoges porcelain chocolate / tea pot. Tall with scalloped base and upper edge, ribbon shaped handle, hand painted with springs of pink roses a...
Category
Early 20th Century Edwardian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
$240 Sale Price
20% Off
Missoni Italian Porcelain Coffee Espresso Cup and Saucer
By Missoni
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful colorful porcelain coffee espresso or demitasse tea cup and saucer from the iconic Italian luxury Maison Missoni, circa early...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Meissen porcelain Rich Court Dragon cups and saucers, Germany 1960s
Located in Delft, NL
Meissen porcelain Rich Court Dragon cups and saucers, Germany 1960s
Meissen porcelain cups and saucers in box with the Rich Court Dragon pattern.
The six p...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
80s Post Modern Memphis Design Handmade Marilee Hall Abstract Art Teapot Signed
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Spectacular, Post Modern, Memphis Design, One of a Kind, Handmade, tossed and painted yellow tea pot, adorned with both incised and applied colorful geometric designs by noted Ceram...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Metal
ROYAL CROWN DERBY - Imari Pattern #2451 - Tea Cup & Saucer - U.K. - C.1913-50's
Located in Chatham, ON
ROYAL CROWN DERBY - Imari Pattern Number 2451 - Vintage bone china tea cup with fluted sides (replacement - circa 1950's) and an antique sau...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Victorian Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
$206 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Jacob Petit Paris Porcelain Tea Set with Gilt and Colorful Rococo Decoration
By Jacob Petit
Located in Boston, MA
This is a fabulous Jacob Petit Old Paris Porcelain solitaire museum quality tea set. It is profusely decorated with gold, cartouches of flowers and many colors in the rococo style, w...
Category
1840s French Rococo Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage ULIM Limoges Porcelain Tea and Coffee Set – 41 Pieces
By ULIM Limoges
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This beautiful 41-piece tea and coffee set is part of the ULIM collection, a classic and highly sought-after design from Limoges, known for its fine French porcelain. Adorned with a ...
Category
20th Century French Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Antique French Sevres Porcelain Neoclassical 8 Piece Tete-A-Tete Tea Set 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique eight piece 'Sevres' porcelain Tete-A-Tete tea service, Paris, circa 1900.
The set having a blue ground with finely hand-painted panels of Neoclassical scenes of...
Category
Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Totem Elephant Mug with Lid by GINORI 1735
Located in Milan, IT
This mug with lid (cc 400) is an elegant way to enrich an everyday ritual with exquisite allure and a unique design. Part of the Totem Collection, this superb piece of functional dec...
Category
2010s Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
$512 / item
Vintage Japanese Thousand Flower Satsuma Porcelain Demitasse Tea Coffee Set
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Japanese Satsuma porcelain demitasse tea or coffee set featuring the thousand flower design with gold accents. Includes tea pot with ...
Category
Late 20th Century Japonisme Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
$560 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Dresden Tea Set with Hand-Painted Flowers and Raised Figural Faces of Ladies
Located in Boston, MA
I want to offer you this fabulous Helena Wolfson Dresden tea set decorated with hand-painted flower bouquets and raised figural faces of ladies. It inc...
Category
1890s German Rococo Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain, Cedar
20th Century Design Stoneware Ceramic Tea Pot by Montreau Lohoof 1970 La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Montreau Lohoof
Realised in La Borne circa 1970
Original large stoneware ceramic tea pot
Signed under the base : ML
Original good conditions
Measures: height 11 cm
L...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
James Dudson Antique Pewter Mounted Salt Glazed Ceramic Teapot
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine quality early Victorian bullet shaped salt glazed teapot with pewter mounted cover by James Dudson and dating from around 1850. This exce...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
DeSimone of Italy, Hand Painted Ceramic Mid-Century Cup And Saucer c1960
By DeSimone
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
DeSimone of Italy, ceramic cup and saucer, hand decorated with girl holding flowers
A fun piece of Italian dash
Circa 1960's
Signed DeSimone, Italy
Cup: Height 2 inch, Diameter 4.25 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Richard Ginori Italian Porcelain Espresso Coffee Tea Cup Saucer
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage Italian porcelain espresso coffee or tea demitasse cup and saucer 'Toscana' by designer Richard Ginori, circa mid-20th century, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Country Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique Japanese Porcelain Tea Pot Bamboo 1960
Located in Paris, FR
This is a Japanese Tea Pot made around 1960s in Showa era.
It is made with porcelain and the wrist is made with wood and bamboo.
Dimensions:
20.5 x 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Alice in Wonderland Rabbit Teapot, Handmade in Italy, Luxury Handcrafted 2021
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in Disney's Alice in Wonderland.
Ceramic tea service are completely hand-crafted and painted with love and care.
Sometimes we all just need to have a little stress relief. We want to escape the ordinary days, made of work and pain.
Give yourself a little gift with those fabolous creations full of poetry and fairytales.
Our artist models every single detail with patience and love, to bring us back in a world made of dreams and feelings.
The collection recalls Alice in wonderland and Cinderella, taking us to a trip in our childhood, a world that lives silently inside, giving us the strength to always believe...
Category
2010s Italian Baroque Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
$3,274 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Tiffany & Co. Antique Repousse Silver Plate Coffee or Tea Service Set
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique silverplate tea or coffee service set, including: tea pot, sugar, creamer, bowl, and large service tray.
By Tiffany & Co.
Tray is associated and is marked "Ascot Sheffield Design...
Category
Late 19th Century American Art Deco Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique Haviland Offner Limoges France Tea Coffee Chocolate Pot Cups Saucers
Located in Dayton, OH
"12 piece Antique Haviland & Co Limoges tea / coffee / chocolate set for E. Offner of New Orleans LA. Features a hand painted pink, turquoise and gild...
Category
Late 19th Century Late Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
$800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Cinderella Tea Service Teapot and Six Cups, Pink & Gold, Handmade in Italy, 2021
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in Disney's Cinderella.
Ceramic tea service are completely hand-crafted and painted with love and ...
Category
2010s Italian Baroque Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
$3,246 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Antique Edwardian Quality Wedgwood Jasperware Teapot
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Edwardian quality Wedgwood Jasperware teapot having a quality silver plated lid and rim decorated in the traditional Wedgwood blue a...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Tea Sets
Materials
Other
Herend Hungary Porcelain Tea set for 12 persons, Indian Basket Green pattern
By Herend
Located in Delft, NL
Herend Hungary Porcelain Tea set for 12 persons, Indian Basket Green pattern
A Herend porcelain tea set for 12 persons with the Indian Basket pattern....
Category
20th Century Hungarian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Richard Ginori Italian White & Gold Coffee or Tea Cup, circa 1960s, 8 Avail
Located in New York, NY
Very beautiful vintage Italian white porcelain with gold gilt coffee or tea cup(s) by designer Richard Ginori, Italy, circa mid-20th century, circa 1960s. Colors include: gold gilt a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Tea Sets
Materials
Gold
Art Deco Tea, Coffee, Dessert Set, Porcelain, Victoria, Czechoslovakia, 1930s
Located in Bochum, NRW
Delightfully angular pure Art Deco porcelain tea / coffee and dessert serving set for 5 by Victoria, Czechoslovakia.
Comprising: jug, sugar bowl, milk jug, serving plate, 5 cups wi...
Category
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
ROYAL CROWN DERBY - Imari Pattern #2451 - Tea Cup & Saucer - U.K. - C.1912-16
Located in Chatham, ON
ROYAL CROWN DERBY - Imari Pattern Number 2451 - Antique bone china tea cup with fluted sides (circa 1912) and an antique saucer (circa 1916) - elaborat...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
$206 Sale Price
30% Off
Teiera in Porcellana di Capodimonte, Bronzo e Oro Zecchino Fine 1800
By Capodimonte
Located in Milano, MI
Teiera in porcellana di Capodimonte, bronzo e oro zecchino, realizzata alla fine del XIX Secolo
Ø cm 23 Ø cm 14 h cm 30
La porcellana di Capodimonte è un'eccellenza dell'artigianat...
Category
1880s Italian Empire Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Gold Russian Lomonosov Porcelain Coffee & Tea Service / by A. Vorobievsky
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Exquisite Hand-Painted and Gilt Gold Russian Lomonosov Porcelain Coffee & Tea Service for 8, Designed by A. Vorobievsky (1990s)
This stunning 34-pie...
Category
1990s Russian Tea Sets
Materials
Gold
Lotta Odelius for Sagaform Sweden Retro Teapot
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Marianna Erlikh
Dec 23, 2024, 8:07 PM (5 days ago)
to me
Sagaform Sweden ceramic teapot with lid features abstract geometric design in green and blue palette, inspired by 1950s S...
Category
Early 2000s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Kutani Tea Service, Japanese, Porcelain, Teapot, Cup & Saucer, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Kutani tea service. A Japanese, porcelain 6 person teapot and cups set, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Superb Japanese tea service...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Massimo Materassi for Mas Italy coffee set 1984 Memphis Milano
By MAS Italia
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Coffee set by Massimo Materassi designed for MAS Italy in 1984. Materassi graduated in 1979 at the University of Florence, Faculty of Architecture. After a b...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Afternoon Tea Service, English, Silver Plated, Serving Tray, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique afternoon tea service. An English, silver plated 3 piece set with serving tray, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910.
...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Tea Sets
Materials
Silver Plate
English stoneware tea pot by Castleford, c. 1810
By Castleford Pottery
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Castleford smear glaze feldspathic stoneware covered tea pot with cobalt blue enamel striping and applied Classical decoration throughout.
English, circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Stoneware
Luigi Colani Zen Full Tea Set and Plates, Stoneware, Friesland, Germany, 1970s
By Friesland Ceracron, Luigi Colani
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful tea set made of black glazed stoneware, designed by Luigi Colani in 1973. Executed by Porzellanfabrik Friesland, Germany. All items are in excellent condition. The set co...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
Coffee Set with Four Pieces and Tray
By Braganti
Located in Milan, IT
This sophisticated coffee set entirely made in silver will bring a touch of lavish elegance to any table. It is accompanied by an oval tray with rectangular ornate handles and a deli...
Category
2010s Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
$60,720 / item
1930s Wedgwood Lustreware Tea Cups & Saucers, Set of 6
By Wedgwood
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of six 1930s Wedgwood lusterware tea cups and saucers. Overall silver floral motif on bone China background. Set includes 6 tea cups and 6 saucers, 12 pieces total.
Each piece i...
Category
1930s English Edwardian Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Richard Ginori Contessa Porcelain Coffee or Tea Cup, 12 Avail.
Located in New York, NY
** 12 cups available, each sold separately, as per listing.
Vintage Italian Richard Ginori 'Contessa' gold and terracotta rust-red porcelain coffee o...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Gold
Italian 15-Piece Futurist Tea Service by Diulgheroff and d'Albisola for Mazzotti
Located in Stockholm, SE
Italian 15-Piece Futurist Tea Service
Designed by Nikolay Diulgheroff (1901–1982) and Tullio d'Albisola (1899–1971) for Mazzotti, circa 1935, produced for Torido Mazzotti (1895–1988).
This striking tea service features original decoration using oxides and matte glazes. The design incorporates elements from Constructivism, Cubism, and Suprematism, with an alternating two-sided pattern showcasing primary blue and yellow motifs. The vibrant colors and cosmic interpretations make this a vivid example of Italian Futurist...
Category
1930s Italian Futurist Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Set of 9 Vintage Coffee or Tea Set
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Coffee or Tea Set, Set of 9, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1950 to 1959
Additional information:
Materials: Metal, Plastic
Color: Black
Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre...
Category
20th Century Tea Sets
Materials
Metal
$1,759 / set
Le Tallec Set of 4 Demitasse Cups and Matching Tray with Profuse Raised Gilding
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Le Tallec set that includes four demitasse cups and saucers with a tray with a matching pattern. All the cups and saucers and the tray are embellished in raised profuse gilding with curves and scrolls in a rococo style. The tray is 13.5 inches in diameter. This demitasse set is very rare and would be a wonderful addition to any coffee lover or demitasse collector. Price of Le Tallec set-$1500.00.
Camille Le Tallec was born in Paris in 1906. In 1929, he graduated from the Ecole du Louvre. In 1930, he opened his studio in Belleville, Paris, which became the Atelier Le Tallec. At his studio, his goal was to paint his porcelain pieces beautifully like Vincennes or Sevres porcelains. Most of the Le Tallec boxes...
Category
1950s French Rococo Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
1950's French Ceramic Coffee Set from Vallauris
By Vallauris
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible ceramic coffee set made by French ceramic maker Charles Voltz in Vallauris, 1950's. Set includes 1x large coffee pot with lid, 1x sugar bowl with lid, 1x creamer pot with ...
Category
1950s French Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 8 Bistro Bodum Espresso, Coffee Tea Cups by Carsten Jorgensen Star Trek
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Stylish set of 8 espresso/coffee/tea cups designed in 1974 by Carsten Jorgensen and manufactured in Denmark by Bodum. This set consists of 4 heat resistant tempered glass cups with b...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Glass, Plastic
Memphis Silver Plate and Lucite Tea and Coffee Service by Guildart, circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Indulge in the artistry of the Memphis Movement with this extraordinary coffee and tea service, a rare crafted creation by renowned silversmith Guildart, Paris, circa 1980. A true co...
Category
1980s French Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Metal
Tiffany Hampton Art Deco Sterling Silver Coffee & Tea Set on Tray
Located in New York, NY
Hampton sterling silver coffee and tea set on tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1930. This set comprises 7 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, creamer, su...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique, New and Vintage Tea Sets
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.