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Tableware

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Tableware For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1920s
Liberty & Co. Sterling Silver Turquoise Napkin Ring
Located in New York, NY
Large oval napkin ring. Made by LIBERTY & CO. Heavy gauge sterling silver. Hand-hammered. With a large round bezel-set turquoise in the center. Alice Kwartler has sold the finest...
Category

1920s European Art Deco Vintage Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

René Lalique, France, Rare and Early Decanter in Clear Art Glass
Located in Copenhagen, DK
René Lalique (1860-1945), France. Rare and early decanter in clear art glass. 1920s. Measures: 23 x 16.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tableware

Materials

Art Glass

Wedgwood Clio Dinnerware ~ 16 Place Settings
Located in New York, NY
A set of 16 place settings (a total of 80 pieces) in the Clio pattern by Wedgwood. Features colors of bone, black and gold with floral motif at rims, ...
Category

1990s English Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

Wedgwood Patrician Dinnerware Set, 24 Pieces
Located in New York, NY
A 24 piece dinnerware set in the wedgwood Patrician pattern. Features a tonal raised scroll motif throughout and brand stamp at undersides. M...
Category

1980s English Vintage Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

French Cut Crystal / Gilt Brass Finial Covered Dish
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Late 20th century cut crystal tableware covered serving piece. The piece features a gilt top brass pinecone finial covers resting on a squared shape base with exterior cut crystal di...
Category

Late 20th Century French Tableware

Materials

Crystal, Brass

French Cut Crystal / Brass Covered Finial Serving Piece
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Late 20th Century french cut crystal tableware covered serving piece. The piece features a diamond shape cut crystal details and gilt top brass pinecone finial covers resting on a ro...
Category

Late 20th Century French Tableware

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Sterling Silver Baby Flatware in Cordis Pattern by Tiffany & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Sterling silver baby flatware (fork & spoon) in the "Cordis" pattern by Tiffany & Co., circa 1990s. The set is in very good vintage condition and is stamped on the side “Tiffany & Co...
Category

Late 20th Century American Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

18 Antique Cobalt Blue Cut & Cased Crystal Goblets, 24 Karat Gold Bands, Tall
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Scarce and hard to find matching set of 18 antique cobalt blue and gold cased crystal goblets. This set has a nice crisp cased and cut to clear cobalt blue bowl...
Category

1920s Czech Vintage Tableware

Materials

Crystal, Gold

1970s Fabulous Modern 9 Copper Napkin Ring Holders with Textured Design
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Fabulous MCM Set of 9 napkin holders in copper. Texturized design. Some verdigris patina present Unmarked 1.88 x 1.88 x 1.25 d Preowned unrestored vintage condition. Refer to images
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tableware

Materials

Copper

1970s Zwilling Set of 6 Black Knives by J A Henckels made in Germany
By Gio Ponti, Viking Germany
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Set of 6 assorted Knives by Zwilling J A Henckles Germany Black Handles Made in Germany. Maker Stamped. 4 knives at 9.13 L x .63 thick x 1 h 1 serrated knife...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

8 Crystal Dessert Bowls, Intaglio Engraved circa 1920 Attributed to Webb England
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A suite of 8 blown crystal bowls featuring an elaborate all-over engraved floral design. A great size for ice cream, fruits or puddings. We attribute them to one of the fine English ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Tableware

Materials

Crystal

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Lightly Serrated Steak Knife Set
Located in New York, NY
1990s silver plated steel eight piece steak knife set. From the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Some are stamped "Waldorf Astoria" and some are not. Made by Oneida. A Waldorf Astor...
Category

1990s American Art Deco Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Steel

Set of Handmade Porcelain Tableware by Pieter Stockmans, Belgium
Located in Dronten, NL
The porcelain art from Studio Pieter Stockmans results from a combination of traditional craft production and a contemporary, experimental approach. The designer is constantly stretc...
Category

1980s Belgian Vintage Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Waldorf Astoria Hotel 8 Piece Serrated Steak Knife Set
Located in New York, NY
Silver plated steel eight piece steak knife set. From the 1990s NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Some are stamped "Waldorf Astoria" and some are not. Made by Oneida. A Waldorf Astoria auth...
Category

1990s American Art Deco Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Steel

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Eight Piece Art Deco Fish Knife Set
Located in New York, NY
Silver plated steel eight piece used fish knife set. Made by Oneida. This item is original to the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Towers. 1980s. Some are stamped "...
Category

1980s American Art Deco Vintage Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Steel

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Silver Plated 8 Piece Knife Fork Set
Located in New York, NY
Silver plated steel eight piece dinner knife and fork set. From the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Some are stamped "Waldorf Astoria" and some are not. Made by Oneida. Priced per set. A ...
Category

1980s American Art Deco Vintage Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Steel

Antique and Vintage Tableware

While it isn’t always top of mind for some, antique and vintage tableware can enhance even the most informal meal. It has been an intimate part of how we’ve interacted with our food for millennia.

Tableware has played a basic but important role in everyday life. Ancient Egyptians used spoons (which are classified as flatware) made of ivory and wood, while Greeks and Romans, who gathered for banquets involving big meals and entertainment, ate with forks and knives. At the beginning of the 17th century, however, forks were still uncommon in American homes. Over time, tableware has thankfully evolved and today includes increasingly valuable implements.

Tableware refers to the tools people use to set the table, including serving pieces, dinner plates and more. It encompasses everything from the intricate and elaborate to the austere and functional, yet are all what industrial product designer Jasper Morrison might call “Super Normal” — anonymous objects that are too useful to be considered banal.

There are four general categories of tableware — serveware, dinnerware, drinkware and, lastly, flatware, which is commonly referred to as silverware or cutlery. Serveware includes serving bowls, platters, gravy boats, casserole pans and ladles. Most tableware is practical, but it can also be decorative. And decorative objects count as tableware too. Even though they don’t fit squarely into one of the four categories, vases, statues and floral arrangements are traditional centerpieces.

Drinkware appropriately refers to the vessels we use for our beverages — mugs, cups and glasses. There is a good deal of variety that falls under this broad term. For example, your cheerful home bar or mid-century modern bar cart might be outfitted with a full range of vintage barware, which might include pilsner glasses and tumblers. Specialty cocktails are often served in these custom glasses, but they’re still a type of drinkware.

Every meal should be special — even if you’re using earthenware or stoneware for a casual lunch — but perhaps you’re hosting a dinner party to mark a specific event. The right high-quality tableware can bring a touch of luxury to your cuisine. Young couples, for example, traditionally add “fine china,” or porcelain, to their wedding registry as a commemoration of their union and likely wouldn’t turn down exquisite silver made by Tiffany & Co. or Georg Jensen.

It’s important to remember, however, that when you’re setting the dining room table to have fun with it. Just as you might mix and match your dining chairs, don’t be afraid to mix new and old or high and low with your tableware. On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage and antique tableware to help elevate your meal as well as the mood and atmosphere of your entire dining room.

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