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Tea Sets For Sale
Vintage Chinese Pottery Tea Pot
Vintage Chinese Pottery Tea Pot

Vintage Chinese Pottery Tea Pot

Located in Delray Beach, FL

Vintage Chinese Pottery Teapot brings serene pastoral scenes and gentle glazed tones to any space—an elegant nod to traditional Asian ceramic artistry. We sell items as acquired,...

Category

1990s Chinese Tea Sets

Materials

Pottery

Antique Indian Silver Three Piece Tea Service
Antique Indian Silver Three Piece Tea Service

Antique Indian Silver Three Piece Tea Service

By Grish Chunder Dutt

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A exceptional, fine and impressive antique Indian silver three piece tea service; an addition to our diverse silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique Indian silver tea set/set consists of a teapot, cream jug and sugar bowl. Each piece of this service has a circular rounded form onto a circular foot. The surface of each piece is embellished with impressive chased bamboo stalk ornamentation, on a matte background. The teapot is fitted with a domed hinged cover ornamented with further bamboo stalk decoration and surmounted with the original, fine and impressive finial. The teapot and cream jug are fitted with silver handles realistically modelled in the form of bamboo stalks. The teapot has an exceptional spout ornamented with a continuation of foliate ornamentation. The antique sugar bowl and cream jug retain the original gilded interior. Condition This antique tea service...

Category

1890s Indian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Paris Porcelain Tea Service, circa 1860
Paris Porcelain Tea Service, circa 1860

Paris Porcelain Tea Service, circa 1860

Located in New York, NY

Comprising 2 pots, creamer (handle restored), covered sugar (finial restored), and 8 cups and saucers.

Category

1860s French Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Brass & Glass Tea Set, France  Set 2 Glasses, Glass Holders and Spoons
Antique Brass & Glass Tea Set, France  Set 2 Glasses, Glass Holders and Spoons

Antique Brass & Glass Tea Set, France Set 2 Glasses, Glass Holders and Spoons

Located in Bastogne, BE

The original set of antique utensils for tea consists of 2 glass tea cups, brass glass holders and spoons. Manufactured in France. Please yourself or your loved ones with beautiful and elite tableware. Handmade. Brass, glass. Engraving, gilding, metal cutting, artistic casting. Decorated with Apple Orchard ornament. Unlike copper, brass is less susceptible to corrosion. It is much softer than copper and other metals, so it can be easily rolled and forged, wears out slowly and at the same time is stronger than copper. Of course, we can say that brass cookware...

Category

Early 20th Century French Tea Sets

Materials

Brass

1890s Victorian Queen Anne Style Sterling Silver Tea Kettle
1890s Victorian Queen Anne Style Sterling Silver Tea Kettle

1890s Victorian Queen Anne Style Sterling Silver Tea Kettle

By Gibson & Langman

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver spirit tea kettle made in the Queen Anne style; an addition to our antique silver teaware collection This impressive antique Victorian sterling silver spirit kettle on Stand...

Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Large Mexican Modern Sterling Silver Coffee Tea Serving Set William Spratling
Large Mexican Modern Sterling Silver Coffee Tea Serving Set William Spratling

Large Mexican Modern Sterling Silver Coffee Tea Serving Set William Spratling

By William Spratling

Located in Atlanta, GA

A large six-piece sterling silver service for coffee and tea that consists of a gallery tray, a coffee pot, a tea pot, a hot milk or chocolate pot, a sugar and a milk jar. This stunn...

Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

A Fine French Six Piece Silver Tea Set
A Fine French Six Piece Silver Tea Set

A Fine French Six Piece Silver Tea Set

Located in London, GB

Comprising: Kettle, Stand & Burner, (h 54cm, w 31cm d31cm) Coffee Pot Tea Pot Sugar bowl & Cover Cream Jug Waste Bowl silver weight 270 oz troy (8.4 kilos)

Category

1890s Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Georg Jensen Cosmos Sterling Silver 8 P Tea & Coffee Set 1920, 45 Tray Denmark
Georg Jensen Cosmos Sterling Silver 8 P Tea & Coffee Set 1920, 45 Tray Denmark

Georg Jensen Cosmos Sterling Silver 8 P Tea & Coffee Set 1920, 45 Tray Denmark

By Georg Jensen

Located in London, GB

A magnificent Danish Georg Jensen 8 piece Tea and Coffee set in the Cosmos Pattern. The set comprises of a Kettle on Stand, Coffee Pot, Tea Pot, two Milk / Cream Jugs and two lidded ...

Category

20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

1930's Art Deco Silver plated tea set
1930's Art Deco Silver plated tea set

1930's Art Deco Silver plated tea set

By Christofle

Located in Bois-Colombes, FR

1930's Silver plated tea set in the style of Christofle Silver plated and wood

Category

1930s Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Sugar Sprinkler, Rosewwod, Silver and Shell, Italy, 1870
Sugar Sprinkler, Rosewwod, Silver and Shell, Italy, 1870

Sugar Sprinkler, Rosewwod, Silver and Shell, Italy, 1870

Located in Milan, IT

Sugar sprinkler made from a perforated St. James shell, attached to the waxed rosewood handle, with a silver floral pattern graft. Italy, circa 1870.  

Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock
14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock

14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock

Located in Norwood, NJ

14-piece Kutani Japanese gilt and painted tea and dessert serving set with Peacock. Hand painted gilt and painted Peacock tea and serving set. Features floral and peacock design. Lidded tea and coffee pots, lidded creamer, sugar bowl, and five snack sets...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Tea Sets

Materials

Gold

George II English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, London, 1757
George II English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, London, 1757

George II English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, London, 1757

Located in Torino, IT

Tea caddy, all-over repousse and hand-chased decoration. Marked underneath.

Category

18th Century and Earlier English Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Brass Teapot, Regency England 1820s
Brass Teapot, Regency England 1820s

Brass Teapot, Regency England 1820s

Located in Knivsta, SE

A striking teapot in brass with handle in wood. 1820s Regency England, during first the regency of the Prince of Wales as a result of his father's mental illness and the later reign of the aforementioned prince as George IV. The period, with its political, economic and cultural flourishing, was immortalized in the works of Jane Austen and Lord Byron. With a refined design and use of material, this teapot makes for a charming addition to any table. The refined simplicity in its use of form highlights the materiality of the piece, which is complimented by the patinated handle with its charming lion...

Category

1820s English Regency Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Brass

Japanese Contemporary Gilded Green Blue Porcelain Cup, 5
Japanese Contemporary Gilded Green Blue Porcelain Cup, 5

Japanese Contemporary Gilded Green Blue Porcelain Cup, 5

Located in Takarazuka, JP

Attractive contemporary Japanese Ko-Imari (old Imari) porcelain short stem cup, in bright red, blue and green colors and generous gold application that are characteristics of Ko-Imar...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Tea Sets

Materials

Gold

Antique Georgian English Sterling Silver Cream Jug
Antique Georgian English Sterling Silver Cream Jug

Antique Georgian English Sterling Silver Cream Jug

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver cream jug; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique George III silver cream jug, in sterling standard, has a rounded helmet shaped form. The body of this Georgian cream jug...

Category

1810s English George III Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

28-Piece Hammersley & Co. Porcelain Tea Set, Blue & Red Floral, Gilded, 1900
28-Piece Hammersley & Co. Porcelain Tea Set, Blue & Red Floral, Gilded, 1900

28-Piece Hammersley & Co. Porcelain Tea Set, Blue & Red Floral, Gilded, 1900

By Hammersley

Located in Worcester Park, GB

This is a beautiful 28-piece fine bone china tea set by Hammersley & Co., featuring the beloved “Howard Sprays” pattern. The design showcases soft pink and blue roses with green foliage, accented with subtle gold gilding along the rims and handle details. The set carries the elegant refinement that Hammersley porcelain...

Category

1860s English Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Coffee Set Vintage Tuscan England Bone China Pale Pink Enamel Gold Plate 1960s
Coffee Set Vintage Tuscan England Bone China Pale Pink Enamel Gold Plate 1960s

Coffee Set Vintage Tuscan England Bone China Pale Pink Enamel Gold Plate 1960s

Located in Bastogne, BE

Elegant six-piece coffee set, crafted from pristine English bone china. Each piece showcases the delicate beauty of a pale pink enamel overlay, exquisitely accented with 24-karat go...

Category

1960s British Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Bone

Two Sets of Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Tea Cups and Saucers
Two Sets of Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Tea Cups and Saucers

Two Sets of Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Tea Cups and Saucers

Located in København, Copenhagen

Two sets of Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain tea cups and saucers in hand painted porcelain. Model 1/76 Approx. 1920/30s. In excellent condition. Marked. Second factory quali...

Category

1920s Danish Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Tea Set 4pc W /Flowers #1001-#1004/1 '#6916'
Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Tea Set 4pc W /Flowers #1001-#1004/1 '#6916'

Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Tea Set 4pc W /Flowers #1001-#1004/1 '#6916'

By Gorham

Located in Big Bend, WI

Chantilly by Gorham Gorgeous Chantilly by Gorham sterling silver four-piece tea set with floral motif. This set includes: 1 - Coffee Pot: Marked #1001/1, holds 3 pints, measure...

Category

20th Century Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Japanese Iron Tetsubin with Chrysanthemum Blossoms, c. 1900
Japanese Iron Tetsubin with Chrysanthemum Blossoms, c. 1900

Japanese Iron Tetsubin with Chrysanthemum Blossoms, c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

Decorated with stylized chrysanthemum blossoms, symbols of longevity and rejuvenation, this Japanese teapot was used to boil water for traditional tea ceremonies. Known as tetsubin, ...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Tea Sets

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Rosenthal, a tea service for ten people.  1920/30’s
Rosenthal, a tea service for ten people.  1920/30’s

Rosenthal, a tea service for ten people. 1920/30’s

Located in København, Copenhagen

Rosenthal, a tea service for ten people. Including ten teacups with matching saucers. Hand-painted with purple flowers. 1920/30s. In perfect condition. First factory quality. ...

Category

1920s German Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Bonnie Seeman Signed Surrealist Porcelain Ceramic Teapot and Cup Set with Tray
Bonnie Seeman Signed Surrealist Porcelain Ceramic Teapot and Cup Set with Tray

Bonnie Seeman Signed Surrealist Porcelain Ceramic Teapot and Cup Set with Tray

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

A surrealist porcelain ceramic tea set with teapot and cup set with tray by Bonnie Seeman. Signed on bottom. A whimsical set that creates the look of rich foliage in leafy greens and...

Category

1990s American Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Edwardian decorative sterling silver kettle on stand made in Birmingham in 1908
Edwardian decorative sterling silver kettle on stand made in Birmingham in 1908

Edwardian decorative sterling silver kettle on stand made in Birmingham in 1908

By William Adams

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1908 by William Adams, this attractive, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Kettle, features chased decoration to the body and lid. The kettle measures 14"...

Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

XX Century Italian Sterling Silver Baroque style Coffepot
XX Century Italian Sterling Silver Baroque style Coffepot

XX Century Italian Sterling Silver Baroque style Coffepot

By Ferrari Milano

Located in VALENZA, IT

The body of the coffee pot is embossed and engraved with scroll motifs, typical of the Baroque style, and allegorical masks. A fine hammering (knurling) was applied between the desig...

Category

1990s Italian Baroque Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Georg Jensen Henning Koppel Tea & Coffee Set on Tray 1017
Vintage Georg Jensen Henning Koppel Tea & Coffee Set on Tray 1017

Vintage Georg Jensen Henning Koppel Tea & Coffee Set on Tray 1017

By Henning Koppel

Located in Hellerup, DK

A vintage modern sterling silver Georg Jensen tea and coffee set with tray with handles of guaiacum (a South American hardwood), design #1017 by Henning Koppel from circa 1952. A ver...

Category

20th Century Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Glass Coffee Set, Italy, 1970s
Vintage Glass Coffee Set, Italy, 1970s

Vintage Glass Coffee Set, Italy, 1970s

Located in Roma, IT

Glass coffee set is a wonderful glass decorative object, realized during the 1970s. Beautifully glass set of six little coffee small cup with metal handles. Label of manufacturer ...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Metal

Antique Edwardian Quality Silver Plated Tea Set
Antique Edwardian Quality Silver Plated Tea Set

Antique Edwardian Quality Silver Plated Tea Set

Located in Ipswich, GB

Antique Edwardian quality silver plated tea set . A quality silver plated tea set consisting of a tea pot, milk jug and sugar bowl with ornate decoration

Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

1930s Danish Sterling Silver Coffee Pot by Georg Jensen
1930s Danish Sterling Silver Coffee Pot by Georg Jensen

1930s Danish Sterling Silver Coffee Pot by Georg Jensen

By Georg Jensen

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George VI Danish sterling silver side handled coffee pot/jug made by George Jensen; an addition to our silver teaware collection This exc...

Category

1930s Danish Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Twin-Handled Antique English Silver Plated Samovar, London, Late 19th Century
Twin-Handled Antique English Silver Plated Samovar, London, Late 19th Century

Twin-Handled Antique English Silver Plated Samovar, London, Late 19th Century

Located in London, GB

A twin-handled English silver plated samovar English, Late 19th century Measures: Height 43cm, width 33cm, depth 33cm This magnificent piece is a large silver plated and bone ha...

Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Blossom Mexican Mexico Sterling Silver Tea Set 7-Piece
Blossom Mexican Mexico Sterling Silver Tea Set 7-Piece

Blossom Mexican Mexico Sterling Silver Tea Set 7-Piece

Located in Big Bend, WI

Blossom by Unknown Gorgeous Blossom Mexican sterling silver 7-piece tea set (maker unknown). This set includes: 1 - Kettle on stand: measures 14" tall x 9" and weighs 75 troy ounce...

Category

20th Century Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Tete a Tete service in Porcelain by Ginori - Italy ca. 1880.
Tete a Tete service in Porcelain by Ginori - Italy ca. 1880.

Tete a Tete service in Porcelain by Ginori - Italy ca. 1880.

By Richard Ginori

Located in Milano, IT

Ginori porcelain tete a tete service with decoration executed by the Richard Ginori manufactory. Decoration with retouché decal with mythological motif. Manufacture mark under the ba...

Category

1880s Italian Other Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Six Cantonese Blue & White Teacups with Saucers 19thC Early 20thC
Set of Six Cantonese Blue & White Teacups with Saucers 19thC Early 20thC

Set of Six Cantonese Blue & White Teacups with Saucers 19thC Early 20thC

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous blue & white Cantonese teacups with Saucers. Late 19thC to early 20thC is the time period. In excellent antique condition with minimal wear. No cracks or chips. Priced and s...

Category

1910s Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

LBS Co. 1849 English Edwardian Style Silver Plated Tea Coffee Set - 4 Pc Set
LBS Co. 1849 English Edwardian Style Silver Plated Tea Coffee Set - 4 Pc Set

LBS Co. 1849 English Edwardian Style Silver Plated Tea Coffee Set - 4 Pc Set

Located in Philadelphia, PA

LBS Co. 1849 English Edwardian Style Silver Plated Tea Coffee Set - 4 Pc Set. Item features (1) teapot, (1) coffee pot, (1) creamer, (1) sugar bowl. Each piece has "MKC" monogram, or...

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Edwardian Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Purple, Pink, Blue and Yellow Lillian Venon Lotus Bowls and Saucers, 8 Pieces
Purple, Pink, Blue and Yellow Lillian Venon Lotus Bowls and Saucers, 8 Pieces

Purple, Pink, Blue and Yellow Lillian Venon Lotus Bowls and Saucers, 8 Pieces

Located in Delray Beach, FL

Exceptional set of 4 saucers and 4 bowls by Lillian Venon. Each bowl displays a plant shape, one in pink, purple, blue and yellow. Bowls measure 4.5”D, 2...

Category

1980s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Georg Jensen Art Deco Coffee Service 319

Vintage Georg Jensen Art Deco Coffee Service 319

By Harald Nielsen

Located in Hellerup, DK

A vintage sterling silver Georg Jensen Art Deco coffee service, design #319 by Harald Nielsen from circa 1928. The coffee pot has a beautiful horn handle applied in two pieces, for h...

Category

20th Century Art Deco Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique George II Georgian Silver Kettle on Stand London 1745 Teapot
Antique George II Georgian Silver Kettle on Stand London 1745 Teapot

Antique George II Georgian Silver Kettle on Stand London 1745 Teapot

By William Grundy

Located in London, GB

An excellent George II Georgian Solid Silver Kettle on Stand. The Tea Pot has an ornate chased design including floral, foliate and scroll patterning, and each side has a shaped cartouche with an engraved crest in it. The Teapot has a hinged domed lid with an impressive finial, and a substantial scroll shaped swing handle with a shaped wooden section. The Tea Kettle stands...

Category

18th Century English George II Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Los Castillo Taxco Bird of Paradise Creamer & Sugar w Malachite Lapis, Mexican
Los Castillo Taxco Bird of Paradise Creamer & Sugar w Malachite Lapis, Mexican

Los Castillo Taxco Bird of Paradise Creamer & Sugar w Malachite Lapis, Mexican

By Los Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Striking mid-century modern creamer and covered sugar set designed and manufactured in Taxco, Mexico by the renowned silversmithing workshop Los Castillo, circa 1950s. This sculptur...

Category

1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Silver, Silver Plate, Brass, Copper

19th Century Dutch Overscale Coffee Pot of Polished Copper
19th Century Dutch Overscale Coffee Pot of Polished Copper

19th Century Dutch Overscale Coffee Pot of Polished Copper

Located in Greenwich, CT

Unusual 19th century Dutch overscale copper coffee pot, possibly a trade sign from a coffee house, with pigtail finial, hand-hammered and riveted finish, with a lovely, polished lustre.

Category

19th Century Dutch Georgian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Copper

Very Rare Old Sheffield Plated Tea Machine, Made Circa 1790
Very Rare Old Sheffield Plated Tea Machine, Made Circa 1790

Very Rare Old Sheffield Plated Tea Machine, Made Circa 1790

Located in London, London

Made circa 1790, this outstanding example of an antique old sheffield plate tea machine, features a larger rotating tea urn for refilling the 2 sma...

Category

1790s English Neoclassical Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sheffield Plate

Two-piece tea service German manufacture Meissen, 1910
Two-piece tea service German manufacture Meissen, 1910

Two-piece tea service German manufacture Meissen, 1910

By Meissen Porcelain

Located in Vicenza, VI

Tea service consisting of two cups with corresponding saucers. The service dates from the very early 20th century, material Meissen porcelain painted with floral and plant motifs, Ge...

Category

20th Century German Other Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain, Meissen

William IV period sterling silver kettle made in 1831 & 1833 by Barnards
William IV period sterling silver kettle made in 1831 & 1833 by Barnards

William IV period sterling silver kettle made in 1831 & 1833 by Barnards

By Edward Barnard & Sons

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in London in 1831 & 1833 by Edward, Edward Junior, John & William Barnard, this handsome, Antique, William IV period, Sterling Silver Kettle, is in the 'Melon' shape, and ...

Category

1830s English William IV Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Teapot
Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Teapot

Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Teapot

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A magnificent, exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Italian sterling silver teapot modelled in the form of a camel; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This magnificen...

Category

1990s Italian Tea Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

18th-Century Colonial Solid Silver Mate Cup
18th-Century Colonial Solid Silver Mate Cup

18th-Century Colonial Solid Silver Mate Cup

Located in Madrid, ES

Antique solid silver mate cup from the late 18th century, crafted in the Colonial style. This finely made piece reflects the traditional silverwork of the period, with an elegant and...

Category

1770s Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Antique Japanese Bowl/Cup for Tea Japan Rare Scene Creamware UK, 18th/19th C
Antique Japanese Bowl/Cup for Tea Japan Rare Scene Creamware UK, 18th/19th C

Antique Japanese Bowl/Cup for Tea Japan Rare Scene Creamware UK, 18th/19th C

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Very unsual tea cup. Decorated after british creamware style. late 18th or 1st half 19th century. Very unsual tea set. Decorated after british creamware style. Early 19th century. Sc...

Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinaman Teapot
19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinaman Teapot

19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinaman Teapot

By Minton

Located in Austin, TX

Majolica figural teapot signed Minton. Modeled as a Chinaman , the tail formed as the Chinaman’s pigtail, his head forming the cover with his hair comb forming the finial. Reference ...

Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Arthur Percy for Upsala-Ekeby / Gefle, Complete Art Deco Grand Tea Service
Arthur Percy for Upsala-Ekeby / Gefle, Complete Art Deco Grand Tea Service

Arthur Percy for Upsala-Ekeby / Gefle, Complete Art Deco Grand Tea Service

Located in København, Copenhagen

Arthur Percy for Upsala-Ekeby / Gefle. Complete Art Deco Grand tea service in pastel blue porcelain with hand painted gold edge, 1930s-1940s. Consisting of five teacups with saucers...

Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

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.