Tableware
1920s Danish Vintage Tableware
Silver
1920s Danish Vintage Tableware
Silver
1920s Danish Vintage Tableware
Silver, Stainless Steel
1920s British Vintage Tableware
Gold, Enamel
2010s Tableware
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Tableware
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Rustic Tableware
Brass, Iron
2010s Italian Tableware
Crystal
2010s Italian Tableware
Bamboo
2010s Portuguese Tableware
Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Italian Modern Tableware
Marble
2010s American Modern Tableware
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Deco Tableware
Porcelain
2010s Italian Baroque Tableware
Murano Glass
2010s American Modern Tableware
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary European Organic Modern Tableware
Stoneware
1920s Japanese Vintage Tableware
Silver Plate, Copper
21st Century and Contemporary European Organic Modern Tableware
Stoneware
21st Century and Contemporary European Organic Modern Tableware
Stoneware
2010s German Tableware
Other
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Tableware
Silver Plate
2010s German Tableware
Other
2010s American Modern Tableware
Linen
2010s American Modern Tableware
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Tableware
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Modern Tableware
Brass
2010s Palestinian Modern Tableware
Blown Glass
2010s Italian Modern Tableware
Marble
2010s Tableware
Stainless Steel
2010s Palestinian Modern Tableware
Blown Glass
2010s Italian Tableware
Porcelain
1920s Japanese Arts and Crafts Vintage Tableware
Wood, Hardwood
2010s Argentine Modern Tableware
Clay, Ceramic, Pottery
1920s American Vintage Tableware
Enamel, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tableware
Resin
2010s Italian Tableware
Porcelain
2010s American Tableware
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tableware
Birch
2010s Italian Modern Tableware
Marble
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tableware
Art Glass
2010s Spanish Brutalist Tableware
Aluminum, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tableware
Carrara Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tableware
Marble
2010s Italian Tableware
Carrara Marble, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tableware
Quartz
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tableware
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Chinese Modern Tableware
Metal, Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Tableware
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tableware
Marble, Brass
2010s Portuguese Organic Modern Tableware
Ceramic, Stoneware
2010s Portuguese Organic Modern Tableware
Ceramic, Stoneware
Early 2000s Luxembourgish Organic Modern Tableware
Porcelain
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.