Tea Sets
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Tea Sets For Sale
Antique 19th Century French Beaux-Arts Silver-Mounted Enamel Tea Caddy by Risler
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique French enamel tea caddy.
Mounted with gilt silver mounts.
By Risler of Paris.
Decorated with polychrome birds or paradise, rock outcroppings, and flowers/flor...
Category
19th Century French Beaux Arts Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Archibald Knox Liberty & Co Silver Art Nouveau Silver Teapot
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and rare Art Nouveau Liberty & Co silver teapot designed by renowned designer Archibald Knox (British, 1864-1933) and dated 1900.
Archibald Knox, was a Manx designer of Scot...
Category
Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
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
Antique 19th Century Chamberlain Worcester Quails Patter Porcelain Cup & Saucer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English porcelain cup & saucer.
In the Quail pattern.
By Chamberlain Worcester.
With painted green, blue, and red painte...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Tiffany Gilt Encrusted Cup & Saucers, Eleven Sets 22 Pieces Circa 1910
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Custom Ordered and Retailed through the fine Gilded Age firm of Tiffany & Co New York. This set of 11 cup and saucers features a striking shape and handle along with gilt encrusted b...
Category
1910s British Belle Époque Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Gold, Enamel
Blue and White Porcelain Teapot with Mythical Qilin and Auspicious Cloud Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
Blue and white Chinese Export porcelain teapot with mythical Qilin and auspicious cloud motifs. Exquisite and rich in cultural artistry, this early 20th-century Chinese export porcelain teapot showcases captivating hand-painted blue-and-white designs featuring mythical Qilin and auspicious cloud motifs. The striking brass handle and rim add a sophisticated metallic accent, highlighting its dual craftsmanship of ceramic artistry and metalwork. The Qilin, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, dances amidst a swirling backdrop of clouds, creating a timeless design that resonates with both tradition and elegance.
Perfect as a statement decorative object, this teapot brings a touch of refined vintage charm to any home. Whether displayed on a kitchen shelf, styled on a living room console, or incorporated into a curated vignette, it effortlessly blends with a variety of aesthetics, from traditional and transitional to eclectic interiors.
Its historical allure and intricate craftsmanship make it a remarkable collector's item or conversation piece. Imbued with artistry and history, this Chinese export teapot...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Tea Sets
Materials
Brass
Dutch Crystal Tea Caddy with Silver cap, by Van Kempen & Zn, 1862
By Van Kempen
Located in Delft, NL
Dutch Crystal Tea Caddy with Silver cap, by Van Kempen & Zn, 1862
A Dutch octagonal crystal tea caddy with silver cap. A beautiful flower on top of the cap. The tea caddy is made by...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Michael Graves Postmodern Tea Kettle by Alessi Italy Production First Years 1985
Located in Biella, IT
Michael Graves Postmodern tea kettle by Alessi Italy production years 1985 the first
matte platinum grey enamel body, black knob, orange whistle bird a...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Metal
1990s Memphis Milano Style Black and White Coffee Set by Taruschio
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Memphis Milano-style Italian ceramic coffee set characterized by its bold, geometric design and avant-garde aesthetic. The coffee set features conical cups with triangular bases...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Silver Chinese Export Tea and Coffee Service, by Tuck Chang & Co., Shanghai
Located in London, GB
Silver Chinese Export tea and coffee service, by Tuck Chang & Co., Shanghai
Chinese, Late 19th century
Measures: Milk jug: height 8cm, width 14cm, depth 10cm
Coffee pot: height 25...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
20th Century Italian Sterlig Silver Tea-Coffee Set in Art Deco' Style
Located in VALENZA, IT
Art Deco style sterling silver tea and coffee service.
The body shape is square and completely smooth, polished with pumice stone.
Two square-section sterling silver wires were solde...
Category
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Golden Plated Hand Tea Spoon Set of Two Handcrafted Natalia Criado
Located in Milan, IT
Add an element of elegance and playfulness to your dinner table with our hand tea spoon. Handcrafted from metal and plated brass, its distinguishing feature is the anthropomorphic ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Tea Sets
Materials
Metal, Gold Plate
Las Palmas, Tea Set with Six Contemporary Porcelains with Decorative Design
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Las Palmas Porcelain Collection owes its name to the city of Palmas, in Brazil. It is a true tribute to palm trees, whether it is their leaves, the whole plant, or even the lands...
Category
2010s Italian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
1940s Art Deco Club Personal Service Coffee Pot
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s Club Personal Service Coffee Pot Aluminum Ware
Wood Handle
Clear logo present
11.5 h x 8.5 d x 6.5 diameter
Preowned original unrestored vintage co...
Category
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Tea Sets
Materials
Aluminum
Victorian Queen Anne Style Sterling Silver Three-Piece Tea Service
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver three-piece tea set in the Queen Anne style; an addition to our silver teaware collection.
This fine antique Victorian sterling silver three-piece tea service consists of a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug / creamer.
Each piece has a plain circular compressed form onto a plain circular collet foot.
The lower portion of each item is embellished with embossed fluted decoration in the Queen Anne style.
The surface of the upper portion of each piece is plain with an impressive applied gadroon decorated border to the waisted flared rim.
The teapot is fitted with a flush hinged domed hallmarked cover, which also features fluted decoration; the flush hinge indicates the Fine quality of this service.
The cover is surmounted by the original carved circular fluted painted wood and sterling silver finial, securing to the interior with a wing nut.
This fine antique teapot is fitted with a swan necked spout ornamented with an impressive embossed singular leaf design to the underside.
The teapot retains the original C-shape carved painted wood handle with a plain scrolling thumbpiece.
The cream jug and sugar bowl have plain ribbed angular sterling silver handles.
This impressive Queen Anne tea set was crafted by the London silversmiths Walter Walker...
Category
1890s English Queen Anne Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver, Silver
Ray Loewy White Grey Gold Porcelain Espresso Coffee Cup & Saucer, Set of 2
Located in New York, NY
A set of two (2) white, grey, and gold porcelain espresso coffee or tea demitasse cup and saucer by designer Raymond Loewy. Cup and saucer are white porcelain with grey and gold deta...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Lovely antique Japanese satsuma three piece tea set
Located in Ipswich, GB
Lovely antique Japanese satsuma three piece tea set, comprising of a tea pot, sugar bowl and milk jug, fantastic hand painted decoration of figural and landscape scenes in stunning b...
Category
20th Century Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Porcelain Tea Set for 11 Person by Carl Tielsch
Located in Vilnius, LT
The porcelain tea set for 11 person is decorated with black and gold decor and handmade by Carl Tielsch in 19th century.
The total amount of item...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
French Porcelain Tete a Tete Tea Set Circa 1875
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant 19th century porcelain in white gold and crimson raspberry. The teapot with lid, sugar bowl with lid, creamer, two tea cups with tray. The tray measures 17 wide, 12.75 deep a...
Category
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage English Victorian Silver Plated Tea Set w/ Tilting Kettle - 6 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage English Victorian Silver Plated Tea Set w/ Tilting Kettle - 6 Pc Set. Listing includes (1) tilting teapot on stand with warmer, (1) creamer, (1) twin handle sugar bowl, (1) s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Tea Sets
Materials
Silver Plate
Villeroy & Boch Burgenland Blue Service Coffee Set, Germany, Discontinued
Located in Bastogne, BE
Coffee set Villeroy & Boch Burgenland blue, classic old series, vintage 1960s/1980s, Germany.
Discontinued Piece.
The Burgenland Blue stoneware coffee set by Villeroy & Boch presen...
Category
1960s German Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Asian Tea Set with Hand Woven Wicker Carrying Warmer Basket, Teapot and Mugs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Asian tea set with carrying basket. 1 porcelain teapot, 2 porcelain tea mugs and a wicker carrying basket. Perfect for a trip to the garden for tea time or pi...
Category
20th Century Asian Chinese Export Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain, Wicker
Limited Edition Memphis Post-Modern Porcelain Teapot and Cups by J. Mihalik Art4
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful limited edition Memphis style post-modern porcelain teapot and and six cups by Juraj Mihalik for Art4 Ceramics of Slovakia, circa 1980s. The set in very good cond...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Cinderella Tea Service, Lilac & Gold, Handmade in Italy, Luxury Gold Design 2021
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in Disney's Cinderella.
Ceramic tea service are completely hand-crafted and painted with love and care.
A set is composed by a teap...
Category
2010s Italian Baroque Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Art Nouveau Silver Plated Floral Repousse Tilting Tea Pot on Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Art Nouveau Silver Plated Floral Repousse Tilting Tea Pot on Stand. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 15" H x 10" W x 8.5" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Tea Sets
Materials
Silver Plate
19th Century English Pewter Tea Service
Located in Austin, TX
Dating to 1870 and made in Sheffield, England, a locale well known for its silver design and production, this is an extremely well-preserved three-piece pewter and brass tea service....
Category
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Brass, Pewter
Porcelain Samovar, Tea or Coffee Urn Handmade in Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Porcelain lidded samovar, tea or coffee urn, handmade in Italy.
Great decorative piece with handles and brass metal sprout.
Great to use for serving hot tea or any beverage.
Beautiful colorful hot water urn samovar in the Russian style.
Gilt fine porcelain tea pot hand...
Category
1960s Italian Renaissance Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinese Man Figural Teapot
By Minton
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinese man figural teapot. It is wonderfully whimsical and features a Chinese man form with excellent coloring.
Additio...
Category
19th Century Chinoiserie Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Pottery
Mid Century Porcelain White Lego Formula 1 Tea Coffee Service Cups, Poland, 1960
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Lovely Mid-Century Modern porcelain hand painted coffee set of two cups and two plates.
Service for 2 people produced by Zaklady Porcelany in Tulowice in the 1960s.
The service co...
Category
Mid-20th Century Polish Tea Sets
Materials
Enamel
Royal Chrysanthemum Silver Gilt Teacups and Saucers by Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tiffany & Co.’s beloved Chrysanthemum pattern is showcased in this rare and exceptional teacup service created for royalty. Bearing the coronet of a European baron, this set contains...
Category
20th Century American Art Nouveau Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
Antique Georgian Sterling Silver Bachelor Teapot
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George III English sterling silver bachelor teapot; an addition to our Georgian silver teaware collection.
This exceptional antique Edwardian sterling silver teapot has an inverted pear shaped form onto a circular spreading foot.
The surface of the bachelor teapot is plain and unembellished.
The upper rim of the body is ornamented with a band of cast and applied gadroon decoration all in a swirl design.
This antique silver teapot is fitted with a hallmarked, domed flush hinged cover surmounted with an impressive and original, cast sterling silver flame style finial; the flush hinge indicates the high quality of the piece.
This exceptional example of antique teaware retains the original C scroll carved painted wood handle featuring a plain scrolling thumbpiece and a cast silver leaf decorated design to the upper socket,
This impressive example of antique silverware has a cast silver swan necked spout embellished with fluted decoration and applied leaf motif to the lip.
The ornamentation to the underside of the spout incorporates a vacant oval cartouche below a shell motif.
The cast circular spreading foot is encircled with further gadroon decoration to the rim.
Note: This maker may have been recorded in the missing 1739-1758 Smallworkers' Register or the 1758-1773 Largeworkers' Register, determining this maker's mark to be classed as 'unidentified' in all documents. The mark has been discovered on other holloware items such as mugs, salts and sauce boats.
Condition
This antique silver teapot for one...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage John Prip for Reed & Barton "Dimension" Tea and Coffee Set Service
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage John Prip for Reed & Barton "Dimension" modernist tea and coffee silver plated service set.
Designed by John Prip for Reed & Barton in 1960; "Dimension" pattern coffee and te...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Silver, Silver Plate
Pair of Antique 1890 English Bone China Tea Cup and Saucer Sets
Located in Sheffield, MA
Treat yourself and a friend to enjoying a perfect cup of tea with this fine pair of antique Victorian 1890 English bone china cup and saucer set...
Category
1890s Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
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
Cinderella Milk Jug, Porcelain Handmade in Italy, Handcrafted Design 2021
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in Cinderella's fairytail.
This ceramic piece is completely hand-crafted and painted with love and care.
A set is consisting of a mi...
Category
2010s Italian Belle Époque Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Antique George III Quality Copper Kettle
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality copper kettle having a quality antique George III copper kettle with a shaped handle and spout lift of lid
Measures: ...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Copper
Art Deco Tea Set 3-Piece Sterling Silver Fine Quality, Sheffield England 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a fine quality Sterling Silver, Art Deco period, 3-piece tea set consisting of teapot, milk jug and Sugar Bowl, made by Cooper Brothers...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Woodbury Pewter Academic Revival Pewter Holloware Teapot, 1952
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Pewter Holloware teapot from Woodbury Pewter. The teapot is an Academic Revival design after a Meridian, Connecticut model from 1820. Stamped on the underside with the maker's mark.
...
Category
1950s American Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Pewter
Sterling Tea Service Designed by Gio Ponti for Reed and Barton
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A sterling tea service with sterling tray designed by Gio Ponti for Reed and Barton, pattern 440 "Diamond" the tray is #1574. The set consists of ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage Boho Studio Pottery Tea Set- 9 Pieces
Located in west palm beach, FL
A Vintage Boho Studio Pottery Tea Set – 9 Pieces is a delightful and unique addition to any collection or tea service, blending the earthy, handcrafted beauty of studio pottery with ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Pottery
Antique Deep Blue Wedgwood Jasperware Ten Piece Tea Set with Neoclassical Motif
By Wedgwood
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique ten piece tea set was made by the renowned Wedgwood Company of England in approximately 1830 in a Neoclassical Revival style. The set is done in an unglazed stoneware 'Jasperware' with white over a deep blue ground. The set is composed of a large teapot, a large water pitcher...
Category
Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Stoneware
Caneware creamer and teapot by Wedgwood, c. 1817
By Wedgewood
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Caneware ceramic creamer with impressed basket weave surface decoration, along with matching teapot with lid finial in the form of a sheaf of wheat.
Impressed on the underside: Wedgw...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
American Pewter Tea Pot, 1820
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American pewter tea pot with a distressed exterior finish.
Meridan, Connecticut, circa 1820.
Category
Early 19th Century American American Classical Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Pewter
Contemporary Hand Blown Glass "Bonsai Teapot" Tree Nature Elegant Ceremony Calm
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
Introducing the Bonsai Teapot, a stunning hand-blown glass creation by the talented Simone Crestani. This exquisite teapot is a distinguished piece from the captivating Nature Collec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tea Sets
Materials
Glass
English 19th Century Sterling Silver Perforated Tea Strainer
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful and refined tea strainer was realized in England- arguably the birthplace of fine silverware- during the 19th century. It features a con...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Lino Sabattini for Christofle, Modernist Teapot, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Lino Sabattini (1925-2016) for Christofle. Modernist teapot in silver plated metal, circa 1960.
In very good condition.
Stamped: Christofle Italy / ...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tea Sets
Royal Vienna Style Bohemia Czecho-Slovakia Black Porcelain Tea Set - 12 pcs
By Bohemia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Royal Vienna Style Bohemia Czecho-Slovakia Black Porcelain Tea Set - 12 pcs. Listing includes (1) tray, (3) cups, (5) saucers, (1) cove...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Tea Service in Hand Painted Porcelain, Mid-20th Century
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Japanese tea service in hand-painted porcelain. Mid-20th century.
Consisting of two teacups with saucers, a teapot and five plates.
The teacup m...
Category
Mid-20th Century Hungarian Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 8 Anchor and hocking fire king Peach Lustre Laurel cups and plates
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 5cm Heigth cup , 7cm Diameter cup 9cm Width cup , 12cm diameter plate , 1,5cm Height plate
Category
1970s Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Glass
Meissen Porcelain Yellow Dragon Tea Service, 20th century
Located in New York, NY
Consisting of tray 17.5" x 14.75", pot (H 5"), covered sugar (H 3.5"), creamer (H 4"), 4 cups (H-2, D - 3.75) and saucers, 6 plates (D 8"). Condition: additional 2 cups and saucers a...
Category
20th Century Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Gustav Hellstrøm enamel and gilt silver teaspoons, Norway, ca 1890
Located in Delft, NL
Gustav Hellstrøm enamel and gilt silver teaspoons, Norway, ca 1890
Beautiful set of teaspoons, silver purity of 925/000 gilded with enamel. The spoon handle is black enameled with g...
Category
19th Century Norwegian Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
Limoges Porcelain Tea and Coffee Set.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Limoges Porcelain Tea and Coffee Set. "
Porcelain tea or coffee service, composed of 4 cups and saucers, a teapot and a tray, 20th century.
h: 2...
Category
20th Century French Louis XV Tea Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Silver Plated 5-Piece Coffee or Tea Set
Located in North Miami, FL
Japanese silver plated 5-piece coffee or tea set
Dimensions:
Serving tray, 26.5 wide, 14.5 deep, 1 inch tall
Larger coffee pot, 11.75 inches tall, 12.5 deep, 5.5 wide
Smaller tea...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Silver Plate
Futurist Tea Set in Brown Ceramic by Enzo Bioli for Il Picchio, Italy, 1960s
By Enzo Bioli
Located in Rome, IT
Futurist tea set in brown ceramic by Enzo Bioli for Il Picchio.
The set is composed of six cups with 6 saucers, 1 sugar pot, 1 tea pot and 1 milk pot.
Made in Italy in the 1960...
Category
1960s Italian Futurist Vintage Tea Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Tiffany Engraved Hampton Sterling Silver Kettle on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Engraved Hampton sterling silver hot water kettle on stand. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1912. Kettle curved and rectilinear with concave corners faceted s-scroll handle, an...
Category
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Six piece Dutch silver tea set by Van Kempen & Zn, 1894
By Van Kempen
Located in Delft, NL
Six piece Dutch silver tea set by Van Kempen & Zn, 1894
A six piece silver tea set in original box. The set consists of a teapot, a round sugar bowl, a milk jug, a spoon vase, a tea caddy and a glass with silver rim, raised on 3 ball feet coaster. The teapot and milk jug handles...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th C Hand Crafted Sterling Four Piece Tea Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C hand crafted sterling four piece tea set (all hallmarked and photographed.)
Measurements are as follows -
Double handle sugar bowl - ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Tea Sets
Materials
Silver
Il Viaggio di Nettuno Set of 2 Coffee Cups and Saucers by Luke Edward Hall
Located in Milan, IT
This sophisticated set of two coffee cups with their saucers is a celebration of classical aesthetic and ancient mythology, seen through the eyes of designer Luke Edward Hall. The de...
Category
2010s Italian 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.