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Tea Sets

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Tea Sets For Sale
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Galatix Hand Made Burma Teak Tea Service Set 6 & Tray
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Galatix Hand Made Burma Teak Tea Service Set 6 & Tray

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Galatix Hand Made Burma Teak Tea Service Set 6 & Tray

Located in Topeka, KS

Wonderful vintage Mid-Century Modern Galatix hand-made Burma teak tea service set of 6 glass inserts, 6 Burma teak cup vessels, and a Burma teak serving tray....

Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Glass, Teak

Soviet Russian 916 Silver Gilt Enamel Cup & Saucer, Leningrad. Mid-20th Century.
Soviet Russian 916 Silver Gilt Enamel Cup & Saucer, Leningrad. Mid-20th Century.

Soviet Russian 916 Silver Gilt Enamel Cup & Saucer, Leningrad. Mid-20th Century.

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A rare and highly collectible Soviet Russian tea pair crafted in 916 silver, decorated with three-color enamel and finished with a richly gilt interior. Produced in Leningrad in the ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Russian Tea Sets

Materials

Enamel

21 Century Porcelain Teapot, M.U.M., Natural Finishing, handcrafted, Kanz
21 Century Porcelain Teapot, M.U.M., Natural Finishing, handcrafted, Kanz

21 Century Porcelain Teapot, M.U.M., Natural Finishing, handcrafted, Kanz

By kanz

Located in Venezia, Veneto

Mum is a porcelain teapot with smooth geometric lines, and is natural to the touch. The CAP disappears on the top, and the profile retains its essential design. Porcelain teapot, mat...

Category

2010s Italian Other Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Tea and Coffee Set "Elka" by Jezek for Brezova-Pirkenhammer, 1960s
Tea and Coffee Set "Elka" by Jezek for Brezova-Pirkenhammer, 1960s

Tea and Coffee Set "Elka" by Jezek for Brezova-Pirkenhammer, 1960s

By Pirkenhammer

Located in Praha, CZ

Elka coffee and tea set designed by Jaroslav Jezek in 1957 Awarded by Grand Prix at the Expo 1958 Manufactured and marked by Brezova - Pirkenhammer 6 tea cups with plates 6 coffee cu...

Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Ulla Procopé, Arabia, Brown Teapot
Ulla Procopé, Arabia, Brown Teapot

Ulla Procopé, Arabia, Brown Teapot

By Arabia, Ulla Procope

Located in MAASTRICHT, LI

Product Description: The teapot on offer here has been designed by Ulla Procopé for Arabia. Ulla, who died young at an age of 47, is responsable for a whole series of famous designs...

Category

1960s Finnish Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Earthenware

20th Century Italian Solid Sterling Silver Tea, Coffeset with Tray
20th Century Italian Solid Sterling Silver Tea, Coffeset with Tray

20th Century Italian Solid Sterling Silver Tea, Coffeset with Tray

By Argenterie di Milano

Located in VALENZA, IT

A magnificent, Russian style tea or coffee set on a salver. The tray, made from plate silver, was completely hand-crafted from a raw sheet and its outer rims are embellished with a b...

Category

1970s Italian Other Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Extraordinary British Empire Kettle on a Stand
Extraordinary British Empire Kettle on a Stand

Extraordinary British Empire Kettle on a Stand

Located in Middleburg, VA

Exceptionally well crafted, it is made of copper and brass and has a compartment in the very decorative stand for charcoal to keep the kettle warm. It is very elegant for domestic us...

Category

19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Brass, Copper

Carsten Jorgensen for Bodum Stainless Steel and Brass Ball Tea Set (3 pcs)
Carsten Jorgensen for Bodum Stainless Steel and Brass Ball Tea Set (3 pcs)

Carsten Jorgensen for Bodum Stainless Steel and Brass Ball Tea Set (3 pcs)

By Carsten Jorgensen

Located in Pasadena, TX

This 3 piece set is made by Bodum. The set was designed by Carsten Jorgensen. Its made of stainless steel and has brass accents. The teapot has an ebonized handle. The creamer and su...

Category

Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Japanese Contemporary Porcelain Red Gold Cup, 6
Japanese Contemporary Porcelain Red Gold Cup, 6

Japanese Contemporary Porcelain Red Gold Cup, 6

Located in Takarazuka, JP

Striking Japanese Ko-Imari (old Imari) porcelain long stem cup, in bright red, blue and green colors and generous gold application that are charact...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Tea Sets

Materials

Gold

Vallauris Coffee Set, Gray Brown Ceramic, France, 1950
Vallauris Coffee Set, Gray Brown Ceramic, France, 1950

Vallauris Coffee Set, Gray Brown Ceramic, France, 1950

By Vallauris

Located in Paris, FR

Original signed Vallauris French Mid-Century Modern cups creative design full Coffee set made in ceramics. 6 cups diameter 8-8,5cm H 7 cm 6 saucers L 11 cm x L 11.5 cm x P 2 cm Ja...

Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

MCM Russel Wright Tea Service in Robin's Egg Blue
MCM Russel Wright Tea Service in Robin's Egg Blue

MCM Russel Wright Tea Service in Robin's Egg Blue

By Russel Wright

Located in Austin, TX

Mid-century lifestyle influencer, Russel Wright believed, 'The table was the center of the home.' Now with ‘Mid-Mod’ all the rage again, Russel Wright’s American Modern Collection o...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Pottery

Vintage English Art Nouveau Silver Plated Tulip Flower Handle Design Teapot
Vintage English Art Nouveau Silver Plated Tulip Flower Handle Design Teapot

Vintage English Art Nouveau Silver Plated Tulip Flower Handle Design Teapot

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage English Art Nouveau Silver Plated Tulip Floral Design Teapot. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 9.5" H x 9" W x 4.5" D.

Category

Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Chinese Export Blue & White Ceramic Coffee / Tea service
Chinese Export Blue & White Ceramic Coffee / Tea service

Chinese Export Blue & White Ceramic Coffee / Tea service

Located in Huntington, NY

Chinese Export Blue & White Ceramic Coffee / Tea service With Tea pot, Creamer & sugar Bowl Tea pot with lid & tray Height 6.75” Depth 6” Width 11” Creamer Height 4.5” Dept...

Category

19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Chantilly Porcelain Silver Mounted Tea Pot, circa 1740
Chantilly Porcelain Silver Mounted Tea Pot, circa 1740

Chantilly Porcelain Silver Mounted Tea Pot, circa 1740

Located in New York, NY

Painted front and back with a yellow tree-shrew among banded hedges and vines, a flying fox below the spout, the cover with berried vine and an insect. Silver Mounted with Paris Disc...

Category

1740s Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Famille Verte Kangxi Period Tea Bowl SE Asia Chinese Porcelain
Antique Famille Verte Kangxi Period Tea Bowl SE Asia Chinese Porcelain

Antique Famille Verte Kangxi Period Tea Bowl SE Asia Chinese Porcelain

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Very rare Kangxi Famille Verte Tea Set with Ruyi decoration for the SE Asian market. Marked with a Lozenge with ribbons. Large dish with similar ruyi design is pictured in; Ströber,...

Category

17th Century Chinese Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Art Deco Machine Age Chrome and Bakelite Coffee Orb by Manning Bowman Ca. 1930s
Art Deco Machine Age Chrome and Bakelite Coffee Orb by Manning Bowman Ca. 1930s

Art Deco Machine Age Chrome and Bakelite Coffee Orb by Manning Bowman Ca. 1930s

By Manning Bowman

Located in Pasadena, TX

Art Deco chrome and Bakelite coffee urn made by Manning Bowman. The spherical percolator has bakelite handle, turn knob and base. Height: 14.5 in Width: 10 in Depth: 11 in.

Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Tea Sets

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Webster & Son Victorian Silver Plated Etched Tea Set - 3 Pc Set
Antique Webster & Son Victorian Silver Plated Etched Tea Set - 3 Pc Set

Antique Webster & Son Victorian Silver Plated Etched Tea Set - 3 Pc Set

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Webster & Son Victorian Silver Plated Etched Tea Set - 3 Pc Set. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 5.5" H x 10.25" W x 6.75" D.

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Dragon Trainer Teapot, Handmade in Italy, Luxury Handcrafted, 2021
Dragon Trainer Teapot, Handmade in Italy, Luxury Handcrafted, 2021

Dragon Trainer Teapot, Handmade in Italy, Luxury Handcrafted, 2021

By Mosche Bianche

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

Set of 6 Antique Japanese Meiji Tea Bowls Porcelain Straits Ennamels Eggshell
Set of 6 Antique Japanese Meiji Tea Bowls Porcelain Straits Ennamels Eggshell

Set of 6 Antique Japanese Meiji Tea Bowls Porcelain Straits Ennamels Eggshell

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

A very nice set of 6 tea bowls with saucer decorated with flowers and pommegranat. They are marked on the base. Decoration for the SE Asian market. Straits style. Additional informa...

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Japanese Sumida Gawa Pottery Tea Set Monkeys Figures, Early 20th Century
Antique Japanese Sumida Gawa Pottery Tea Set Monkeys Figures, Early 20th Century

Antique Japanese Sumida Gawa Pottery Tea Set Monkeys Figures, Early 20th Century

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Rare and detailed set of pieces. Sumida Gawa pottery tea set. This colorful ware was made for export to the West and is usually heavy and covered with figures in relief. This distin...

Category

20th Century Japanese Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Quality Pair Of 19th Century Teacups & Saucers
Quality Pair Of 19th Century Teacups & Saucers

Quality Pair Of 19th Century Teacups & Saucers

Located in Ipswich, GB

Quality pair of 19th Century teacups & saucers. Quality pair of antique scalloped shaped teacups and saucers with gold gilded decoration.

Category

19th Century Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Bing and Grondahl, "Milky Way". Teapot with sugar bowl and creamer
Bing and Grondahl, "Milky Way". Teapot with sugar bowl and creamer

Bing and Grondahl, "Milky Way". Teapot with sugar bowl and creamer

Located in København, Copenhagen

Bing and Grondahl, ”Mælkevej” ("Milky Way"). Teapot with matching sugar bowl and creamer. Gold decoration. Ca. 1930s. Perfect condition. Marked. First factory quality. Teapot: Width...

Category

1930s Danish Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

1990s Club '88 Postmodern Tea Service for Feltman Langer
1990s Club '88 Postmodern Tea Service for Feltman Langer

1990s Club '88 Postmodern Tea Service for Feltman Langer

By Feltman Products

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Teapot: 9.5" wide x 4.75" deep x 6.5" high Creamer: 5" wide x 3.5" deep x 2" high Mugs: 6" high x 5" wide 1990s rare collection of Peter Langer's teapot, creamer, and two mugs from his namesake pottery line, Feltman Langer...

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Porcelain Coffee Set, France, Limoges, by Emile Madesclaire, 1920 - 1934
Porcelain Coffee Set, France, Limoges, by Emile Madesclaire, 1920 - 1934

Porcelain Coffee Set, France, Limoges, by Emile Madesclaire, 1920 - 1934

By Limoges

Located in Rīga, LV

Porcelain coffee set, Emile Madesclaire, France, Limoges, 1920 - 1934 Additional Information: Materials: Gilding, porcelain, underglaze hand painting Vintage from the 1900s Art...

Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Elkington - Victorian sterling silver tea set made in 1875
Elkington - Victorian sterling silver tea set made in 1875

Elkington - Victorian sterling silver tea set made in 1875

By Elkington & Co.

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1875 by Elkington, this very attractive, Antique, Victorian, Sterling Silver Tea Set, comprises of 5 pieces, all in the 'can' shape, featuring bright cut ...

Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Italian Silver-Plated Baroque-Style Coffee Pot, 1950s
Italian Silver-Plated Baroque-Style Coffee Pot, 1950s

Italian Silver-Plated Baroque-Style Coffee Pot, 1950s

Located in Roma, IT

Highly decorative Italian silver-plated coffee or chocolate pot featuring an elegant sculptural rococo-inspired silhouette with dramatic flowing fluted forms throughout the body. The...

Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Georg Jensen by Nielsen Sterling Silver 4-Piece Coffee Set Pyramid Pattern #600
Georg Jensen by Nielsen Sterling Silver 4-Piece Coffee Set Pyramid Pattern #600

Georg Jensen by Nielsen Sterling Silver 4-Piece Coffee Set Pyramid Pattern #600

By Georg Jensen

Located in New York, NY

Georg Jensen, sterling silver 4-piece coffee set, designed by Harald Nielsen in the celebrated Pyramid pattern number 600, made in the 1910s through 1930s, consisting of: a round tr...

Category

20th Century Danish Tea Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Rörstrand, Sweden. “Maria” tea service in glazed faience, 1970s.
Rörstrand, Sweden. “Maria” tea service in glazed faience, 1970s.

Rörstrand, Sweden. “Maria” tea service in glazed faience, 1970s.

Located in København, Copenhagen

Rörstrand, Sweden “Maria” tea service, 1970s. Collection consisting of cake plates, cups, saucers and sugar bowl in faience with white glaze, green and blue decoration. Origin: Swed...

Category

1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Faience

Hallmark English George I Style Silver Plated 3 Pieces Tea Set Bakelite Handles
Hallmark English George I Style Silver Plated 3 Pieces Tea Set Bakelite Handles

Hallmark English George I Style Silver Plated 3 Pieces Tea Set Bakelite Handles

By Sheffield

Located in Miami, FL

Circa 1930s, this silver service was made in England. All piece are signed with hallmarks. Features George I Style detailing. Bakelite Top and Handle to the Tea Pot. All pieces are...

Category

Mid-20th Century English George I Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

19th Century Austrian Silver Coffee Pot with Spirit Burner
19th Century Austrian Silver Coffee Pot with Spirit Burner

19th Century Austrian Silver Coffee Pot with Spirit Burner

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Austrian silver coffee pot with spirit burner; an addition to our Georgian silver teaware collection This exceptional antique Austrian silver coffee pot has a plain cylindrical form. The coffee pot body is plain and encompassed with an applied moulded girdle to the upper portion. This exceptional coffee pot is fitted with the original push fit cover, encompassed with a palmette leaf style border to the rim. The cover is surmounted with an impressive cast silver foliated finial. This coffee pot is fitted with an elongated handle overlaid with the original interwoven wicker, strategically interlaced to produce a segmented braided design; this finely detailed feature indicates the high quality of the piece. The pot detaches from the original hallmarked silver stand, supported by four impressive scrolling legs. The circular frame and base of the stand are encompassed with further palmette decorated borders. The stand bears a circular receiver to the centre, accommodating the original detachable rounded spirit burner. This hallmarks to this 19th century coffee pot...

Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Regency Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver

Reid & Sons Edwardian Arts & Crafts Style Sterling Silver Teapot
Reid & Sons Edwardian Arts & Crafts Style Sterling Silver Teapot

Reid & Sons Edwardian Arts & Crafts Style Sterling Silver Teapot

By Reid & Sons 1

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver teapot in the Arts and crafts style, made by Reid & Sons; part of ou...

Category

Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Sterling Silver

18th Century English Whieldon-Type Creamware Tortoiseshell Glaze Tea Caddy
18th Century English Whieldon-Type Creamware Tortoiseshell Glaze Tea Caddy

18th Century English Whieldon-Type Creamware Tortoiseshell Glaze Tea Caddy

By Thomas Whieldon Pottery

Located in Downingtown, PA

English Creamware "Tortoiseshell" Glaze Tea Caddy with French Silver Cover, Circa 1770 A fine 18th-century English creamware tea caddy (or canister), produced in Staffordshire circa...

Category

1760s English Georgian Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Creamware, Pottery

Set of Six Paris Porcelain Angel Wing Cups
Set of Six Paris Porcelain Angel Wing Cups

Set of Six Paris Porcelain Angel Wing Cups

By Limoges

Located in New York, NY

Set of six Paris Porcelain angel wing cups. Vintage set of six large cups and saucers of classical baluster form with projecting winged handles; stamped Limoges under saucers perfec...

Category

Early 20th Century French Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Green Porcelain Long Stem Cup, 9
Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Green Porcelain Long Stem Cup, 9

Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Green Porcelain Long Stem Cup, 9

Located in Takarazuka, JP

Exquisite Japanese Ko-Imari (old Imari) porcelain long stem cup, in bright red, blue and green colors and generous gold application that are characteristics o...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Tea Sets

Materials

Gold

Cardeilhac: Magnificent 5pc. French Antique Sterling Silver Tea Set
Cardeilhac: Magnificent 5pc. French Antique Sterling Silver Tea Set

Cardeilhac: Magnificent 5pc. French Antique Sterling Silver Tea Set

By Puiforcat, Christofle Cardeilhac 1

Located in Wilmington, DE

Direct from Paris: a magnificent 5pc. sterling silver tea set by two of France’s premier silversmiths “Cardeilhac” and “Puiforcat”, currently owned by Hermes. The set is in like con...

Category

Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Vermeil, Sterling Silver

Silver and enamels cloisonné tea strainer, Moscow, 1884.
Silver and enamels cloisonné tea strainer, Moscow, 1884.

Silver and enamels cloisonné tea strainer, Moscow, 1884.

Located in Milan, IT

Tea strainer with handle, in 84 Zolotnik silver, gilded and decorated with floral and geometric enamels, cloisonné in white, blue, purple and red. Moscow, Russia, 1884.

Category

Late 19th Century Russian Art Nouveau Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Coq Tea Service for Six People, 1960's
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Coq Tea Service for Six People, 1960's

Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Coq Tea Service for Six People, 1960's

Located in København, Copenhagen

Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. Coq tea service for six people. Rustic design, 1960s. Consisting of six teacups with saucers and a teapot. The cup measures: 9 x 7 cm. Saucer diamet...

Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese Art Deco Tea Set for Four People
Japanese Art Deco Tea Set for Four People

Japanese Art Deco Tea Set for Four People

$1,500Sale Price / set|20% Off

Japanese Art Deco Tea Set for Four People

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Art Deco tea set made of the chary wood .Artisan antique work and hand painted Weight of the set is about 1.5 Lb .( 750 grams ).

Category

1930s Japanese Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Fruitwood

Set of five KP, Karlskrona tea cups with saucers and a creamer
Set of five KP, Karlskrona tea cups with saucers and a creamer

Set of five KP, Karlskrona tea cups with saucers and a creamer

Located in København, Copenhagen

A set of five KP, Karlskrona tea cups with saucers and a creamer in cream-colored porcaelain with gold decoration. Classic style. 1930s/1940s. Marked. In perfect condition. Cup: D 9....

Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese teapot, Meiji period
Japanese teapot, Meiji period

Japanese teapot, Meiji period

Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL

Japanese teapot in bronze with decorations in silver. Meiji period (1868 -1912), circa 1880. H: 12cm. W: 15,5 cm. D: 12cm.

Category

1880s Japanese Japonisme Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Silver, Bronze

19th Century Rosewood Tea Caddy Pyramid Shape Top Lid
19th Century Rosewood Tea Caddy Pyramid Shape Top Lid

19th Century Rosewood Tea Caddy Pyramid Shape Top Lid

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mother-of-pearl and rosewood 19th century tea caddy lacquer box in very good condition.

Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Tea Sets

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood

Vintage Abraham & Straus Victorian Silver Plated Bulbous Coffee Pot Teapot
Vintage Abraham & Straus Victorian Silver Plated Bulbous Coffee Pot Teapot

Vintage Abraham & Straus Victorian Silver Plated Bulbous Coffee Pot Teapot

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Abraham & Straus Victorian Silver Plated Bulbous Coffee Pot Teapot. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 7.5" H x 0" W x 5" D.

Category

Mid-20th Century Victorian Tea Sets

Materials

Silver Plate

Ceramic service signed Rometti , 1950s
Ceramic service signed Rometti , 1950s

Ceramic service signed Rometti , 1950s

By Rometti Ceramics 1

Located in Bastia Umbra, IT

Ceramic service signed Rometti, Made in Italy, 1950s.  Vintage ceramic rosolio service from the 1950s. The ceramic service is hand-painted with silver details, signed by the famous M...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Whiting 5 Piece "Repousse" Sterling Silver Tea Set with Floral Decor
Antique Whiting 5 Piece "Repousse" Sterling Silver Tea Set with Floral Decor

Antique Whiting 5 Piece "Repousse" Sterling Silver Tea Set with Floral Decor

By Whiting Manufacturing Company

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This antique five piece tea set was made by Whiting & Co. of the United States and dates to approximately 1900 and done in a period Victorian style. The set is composed of sterli...

Category

Early 20th Century American Late Victorian 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.

Questions About Tea Sets

  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
    To identify vintage tea sets, first determine who the maker is. Locate the brand stamp or hallmark on one of the pieces. If you snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet, you can conduct a reverse image search to jump-start your research. By using trusted online resources, you can match the marking to the manufacturer's name and, from there, identify the pattern and age. Generally, a tea set must have been produced between 20 and 99 years ago to be considered vintage. For help with identification, seek out a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Find a selection of vintage tea sets on 1stDibs.