Odiot Tea Sets

This is an extremely rare Belleek cabaret set for two, or "tête-à-tête", made in the Erne series brought out in the 1890s. The items carry the 2nd Black Mark, used between 1891 and 1926. The set consists of a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar bowl, two teacups and saucers, and a large matching tray. This set is very fine and with its restrained cream-white colour it would make a wonderful wedding gift! If you ever thought Belleek fine china looks, sounds and feels unique, you are right. There is a back story to this extraordinarily fine Irish eggshell porcelain, which has an unusually high amount of "frit" and therefore is thinner and finer than any other china. Pottery in Belleek (in the now Northern-Irish area of Fermanagh) had started in 1849 with John Caldwell Bloomfield, who was a wealthy land owner. During the Irish famine he realised that unless he would find a way for his tenants to make a profit off the land, they would starve. Agriculture had become impossible due to the agricultural diseases. This caused millions to starve and more millions to leave. As an amateur mineralogist, John Caldwell Bloomfield realised that his land had exactly the right mineral deposits to be used as clay for porcelain. He involved several investors and scientists and after many years of research, trial, error, the building of a railway line to import coal from England, and building a factory, the Belleek pottery resulted, employing the local people and soon producing the finest china made with clay from the Belleek area. What had started as a way to fend off famine among the local tenants had became a story of incredible success by the 1880s as Queen Victoria fell in love with the fine white china and the many homely, slightly bizarre but nature-loving designs; this was different from English tradition, yet it was very much to the taste of the British who had developed a real love for home-made fine china since it was introduced in the late 18th Century. Belleek not only brought out many tea services, but started a new tradition of intricately woven porcelain baskets. Soon the English nobility started to place big orders and the pottery is still flourishing today and selling its wares the world over, while in England most potteries have long disappeared. Belleek made many cabaret services, often called breakfast services or "tête-à-tête" services; these were used to carry breakfast tea up to the bedroom. Queen Victoria bought one in the Echinus style during a visit to the factory in the 1860s, and ever since Belleek's cabaret services have been in great demand. Nowadays there are very few of these left and it is rare to find a full service like this. The Erne series was named after the river right besides the Belleek factory. This river forms the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the factory on the Northern Irish end of the bridge at Belleek. The pattern seems to be a play on the baskets and nets of the fishermen who once fished the abundant trout and salmon on the river Erne and the lake that belongs to it. The items carry the second Black Mark, which was used between 1891 and 1926, however the very fine quality of the porcelain indicates that most pieces of the set are more likely to be from the 1890s than from the 20th Century. You will see that the shade of cob lustre is different on each item; this is normal for Belleek tea sets...

A timeless set for tea and coffee in neoclassical form in silver 950 with wood handle, from the maker Jean E. Puiforcat These are a beautiful and timeless set for tea and coffee, co...

Antique Manhattan silver plate co silver plated tea serving set - 4pc set. Item features (1) Tea pot, (1) covered sugar bowl, (1) creamer,...

Hallmarked in London in 1876 by Martin, Hall & Co., this ornate, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Set, features wondeful chased d...

Haviland Limoges cup and saucer set was made of thin, semi-translucent porcelain and hand decorated in delicate gold, dark red, and pale grey pal...

Antique Reed & Barton 3221 Victorian Silver Plated Floral Repousse 6 Pc Tea Set. Listing includes (1) Tilting tea pot on base, (1) Lidded sugar bowl, (1) Open sugar bowl, (1) Creamer...

Vintage Victorian Wilcox International Silver Co Silver Plated Tea Set w/ Serving Tray - 5 pc Set. Listing includes (1) serving tr...

Vintage Oneida USA Silver Plated Victorian Style Tea Set w/ Tray - 4 Pc Set. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: Tray: 0.5" H x 12.25" W x 12.25" D. Teapot: 10.75" H x 10.5" W x 5...

This exquisite antique porcelain tea set is a true testament to 19th-century craftsmanship. Created by the esteemed German artisan, K. Tilsch, this stunning set dates back to the la...

This antique tea set was made by and unknown maker, but the set and the tray originate from England and date to approximately 1850 and done in the peri...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver six piece bachelor tea and coffee service; an addition to our silver teaware collection This exceptional antique Victorian six piece sterling silver tea service / set consists of a spirit kettle, teapot, coffee pot, cream jug, sugar bowl and tea caddy. The pieces of this antique tea and coffee set have a circular baluster shaped form. This set benefits from a matching oval cylindrical tea caddy; often with time such a piece would be detached from a service. The surface of each piece is embellished with alternating horizontal panels of impressive chased simplified trellis patterns, leaf motifs and rosette designs. The upper rim of each piece is encompassed with an applied moulded decorated border. The spirit kettle, teapot, coffee pot and tea caddy retain the original hinged hallmarked covers, which feature a continuation of the aforementioned chased decoration. Each teaware cover retains the original cast sterling silver finial. The centre of the tea caddy cover incorporates an oval cartouche ornamented with a bright cut engraved coronet and monogram initials. The teapot and coffee pot are fitted with the original hallmarked cast sterling silver handles, embellished with chased ornamentation and plain scrolling thumbpieces. The spirit kettle is fitted with a large scrolling cast sterling silver handle, ornamented with scrolling leaf designs and impressive scrolling sockets. The fine and impressive kettle is supported on the original cast hallmarked detachable three-legged stand fitted with a locking pin and security chain. The stand is ornamented with further chased patterns, accented with scrolling leaf leg brackets to three tapering, scrolling legs and leaf decorated feet. The detachable hallmarked spirit burner is plain and unembellished, with an applied border. The spirit kettle, coffee pot and teapot have cast sterling silver swan necked spouts, each ornamented with panels of scrolling leaf and floral decoration to either side. The cream jug and sugar bowl are fitted with sterling silver C shaped handles, reflecting the design of those to the teapot and coffee pot. The tea caddy, cream jug and sugar bowl retain the original gilt interiors. The underside of the tea kettle features the retailer's mark 'Hunt Roskell Late Storr & Mortimer' and the registration number '4852'. This exceptional Victorian tea and coffee set was were made by the London silversmiths John Hunt & Robert Roskell and John Samuel Hunt between 1864 and 1868, whereas the tea caddy was crafted in 1875 by Henry William...

This stunning and well made vintage sterling tea and coffee service set consists of a tea pot, creamer, and covered sugar bowl. Ribbed design on each piece and all handles are rope ...