Tea Sets
A tea service consists of a matching set of pieces necessary to serve tea to guests. The three key elements necessary are the teapot, cream or milk jug, and the sugar bowl. A grand set can comprise nine or more pieces to include a water jug, coffee pot, tea kettle, slop bowl, mote spoon, spoon tray and a tray to stand all the tea accessories on.
At home, the English have traditionally drunk tea rather than coffee and 19th century inventories show that families owned twice as many teawares as coffee utensils. Women adopted the drink for their social gatherings and served tea after dinner. It was also an occasion to demonstrate wealth and good taste, and teawares were as responsive to changing fashion as dress and interior decoration.
Matching silver tea and coffee sets were not made in any quantities until the mid 1780’s. “Afternoon tea” in Great Britain was established by the seventh Duchess of Bedford in the 19th century. At that time, lunch was taken early and supper very late so the duchess made a habit of taking tea in the afternoon between three and four o’clock together with a light meal.
These charming antique pieces are perfect for an intimate tea party to enjoy the delicate taste of tea poured from a sterling silver teapot. Large sets provide a grand display with a sense of splendour. Tea sets have been popular across the centuries as a traditional wedding gift.
Tea Sets
A tea service consists of a matching set of pieces necessary to serve tea to guests. The three key elements necessary are the teapot, cream or milk jug, and the sugar bowl. A grand set can comprise nine or more pieces to include a water jug, coffee pot, tea kettle, slop bowl, mote spoon, spoon tray and a tray to stand all the tea accessories on.
At home, the English have traditionally drunk tea rather than coffee and 19th century inventories show that families owned twice as many teawares as coffee utensils. Women adopted the drink for their social gatherings and served tea after dinner. It was also an occasion to demonstrate wealth and good taste, and teawares were as responsive to changing fashion as dress and interior decoration.
Matching silver tea and coffee sets were not made in any quantities until the mid 1780’s. “Afternoon tea” in Great Britain was established by the seventh Duchess of Bedford in the 19th century. At that time, lunch was taken early and supper very late so the duchess made a habit of taking tea in the afternoon between three and four o’clock together with a light meal.
These charming antique pieces are perfect for an intimate tea party to enjoy the delicate taste of tea poured from a sterling silver teapot. Large sets provide a grand display with a sense of splendour. Tea sets have been popular across the centuries as a traditional wedding gift.
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1813
Samuel Hennell & John Terry
9271 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A classic style antique sterling silver tea set of circular form with acanthus leaf decoration. The teapot with its matching half ribbed stand. The jug and bowl have the original gilt interior. Total weight 1864 grams, 59.5 troy ounces. Teapot contains 1400 ml, height 14.5 cms, spread 29.5 cms. London 1813. Maker Samuel Hennell and John Terry.
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1816
Naphtali Hart
6722 Georgian Silver Tea Set
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An elegant antique sterling silver tea set of rectangular form with gadroon borders and acanthus leaf mounted handles. Decorated with bands of bright cut dot engraving and a broad central band of acorns and leaves. The engraved silver finial is in the form of a flower. Original gilt interior to the jug and bowl. Weight 1154 grams, 27.1 troy ounces. Teapot contains 900 ml, height 15 cms, spread 29 cms. London 1816. Maker Napthali Hart.
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1819
Robert Gray & Son
9959 George III Antique Silver Tea Set
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Scottish silver. An elegant 3 piece antique sterling silver tea set of globular form with gadroon borders and half fluted body. The jug and bowl have the original bright gilt interior. Excellent classical features with acanthus mounted handles and superior quality grape leaf decorated upper body; an unusual feature is the expansive lotus flower finial. Heavy weight of set 1959 grams, 63 troy ounces. Teapot contains 1150 ml, height 14cm, spread 29cm. Glasgow 1819. Maker Robert Gray & Son. Sterling silver.
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1828
William Brown
7300 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A decorative 3 piece sterling silver tea set with melon shape and cast decorative feet. The teapot has a pretty pomegranate finial, the jug and bowl have the original gilt interior. Weight 1322 grams, 42.5 troy ounces. Height of teapot 13.7 cms. Contains 985 ml. Spread 28.5 cms. London 1828. Maker William Brown
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1834
Edward Barnard & Sons
6356 Antique Silver 3 Piece Tea Set
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A very attractive antique sterling silver tea service with deep chased decoration of flowers, leaves and swirls. Pretty flower finial and decorative cast foot. Original gilt interior to jug and bowl. To the front of each piece there is an engraved crest of an eagle with outstretched wings. Weight 1689 grams, 54.3 troy ounces. Teapot height 16.5 cms, spread 27.5 cms. London 1834. Maker E & J Barnard.
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1835
Edward Barnard & Sons
9516 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A decorative 3 piece sterling silver tea set of shaped scalloped form and having a cast decorative foot. The teapot has a pretty flower finial, the jug and bowl have the original gilt interior. Height of teapot 16.2 cm. Spread 29 cm. Contains 1150 ml. London 1835. Maker E & J Barnard.
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1835 - 1836
John Tapley
9549 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A William IV sterling silver 4 piece tea service of compressed bellied form with cast borders and scrolling feet. The chased decoration is very beautiful with acanthus scrolls and flower heads. The tea and coffee pots have pretty flower finials, the milk jug and sugar bowl have the original bright gilt interior. Each has a hand engraved crest to the front and a monogram in old fashioned script to the reverse. Total weight 2694 grams, 86.6 troy ounces. Teapot contains 1130 ml, height 15.5cm (to the top of the handle), spread 28cm. London 1835/36. Maker John Tapley.
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1837 - 1838
John & Henry Lias
7901 Antique Silver 4 Piece Tea Set
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A very attractive antique sterling silver tea service with deep chased decoration of flowers and leaves. Pretty flower finial and decorative cast foot. The teapot and coffee pot spouts have a naturalistic bark finish and are wrapped with a trail of flowers and leaves. Weight 2688 grams, 86.4 troy ounces. Teapot height 17 cms, spread 28 cms. London 1837/8. Maker Henry & John Lias.
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1843
Walter Crichton
7427 Victorian Scottish Silver Tea Set
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A fine quality antique sterling silver tea set of hexagonal panelled form. With deep scroll engraving and original gilding to the sugar bowl and milk jug. Teapot contains 1500 ml. Teapot height 20 cms, spread 25 cms. Total weight of set 1542 grams, 49.5 troy ounces. Edinburgh 1843. Maker Walter Crichton.
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1846
John Wellby
9589 Antique Silver Teaset
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A good quality antique sterling silver tea set of octagonal panelled form on a decorative cast foot. All over foliate scroll engraving with embossed flowers and bouquets. Original gilding to the sugar bowl and milk jug. The teapot has a very attractive cast silver finial in the form of a flower. Uninscribed. Total weight of set 1494 grams, 48 troy ounces. Teapot contains 1350 ml, height 20.5 cm (to top of finial), spread 25 cm. All pieces same date and maker. London 1846. Maker John Welby.
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1868 - 1869
Edward Barnard & Sons
9530 Antique Silver Tea Set
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An excellent quality 4 piece sterling silver tea set of rounded form with engraved and embossed decoration. The teapot and coffee pot have attractive shaped finials, the jug and bowl have a gilt interior. Contains – teapot 1400ml, coffee pot 1400ml. Weight 2121 grams, 68.1 troy ounces. Height of teapot 19.5 cm (to top of finial), spread 24 cm. London 1868/9. Maker Barnard Brothers.
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1880
William Hutton
7975 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A 3 piece Victorian sterling silver tea set of octagonal can shape. Very stylish with straight sides and flat top with inset hinge. Engraved with panels of leaf motifs, wriggle work and dot borders. Pale interior gilding to the sugar bowl and milk jug. Weight 1027 grams, 33 troy ounces. Teapot contains 1000 ml. Teapot height 12 cms, spread 26 cms. London 1880. Maker William Hutton
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1890
John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater
8571 Victorian 4 piece Silver Tea Set in the style of Edward Farrell
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An outstanding quality antique sterling silver tea service of gourd shape, depicting Teniers style Dutch tavern scenes. The sides are deeply chased in relief, the handles cast as drunken peasants perched on tree branches, the teapot and coffee pot with ivory insulators and drunken figure finials, original pale gilt interiors. The drunken revellers are drinking, playing music, playing cards, womanising; there is a mother and child, even a giant dog. Every scene is different. The teapot and milk jug a have Bacchus face mask mounted spout. This very heavy set weighs 4,024 grams, 129.3 troy ounces. Teapot height 19.5 cms, spread 26 cms. Coffee pot height 26 cms, spread 25 cms. London 1890. Maker John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater.
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1890
Hukin & Heath
7125 Victorian Silver Plated Travelling Picnic Set
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From a design by Dr Christopher Dresser. An antique silver plated automobile set beautifully arranged with many of the pieces slotting inside each other. All in the original leather covered carrying case. Each piece with an engraved monogram and crest. There is a similar set by Dr Christopher Dresser in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (see photos). Kettle height 9 cms (14.5 cms with handle), contains 1 pint. Teapot height 7.5 cms, contains half a pint. Stamped underneath with silver plate stamps for Hukin and Heath, a design number and a Victorian registration mark. Circa 1890.
1 kettle of cauldron form with rattan-covered handle and domed cover, containing a tea canister and a burner
1 teapot with rattan handle, containing a gilded beaker and glass container with screw cover and fitted stopper
1 flask with screw cap
2 circular boxes with screw on lids -
1890 - 1892
Edward Barnard & Sons
9620 Antique Silver Tea Set
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A handsome antique sterling silver tea set with fluted decoration and shell and gadroon borders. 5 pieces. Small size. The sugar bowl and cream jug have the original gilt interior. Contains 700 ml (large teapot), 600 ml (small teapot), 600 ml (jug). Total weight 1544 grams, 49.6 troy ounces. London 1890/91/92. Maker W & J Barnard.
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1895
Joseph Rodgers
9388 Victorian Silver Tea Set
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A handsome antique sterling silver tea set with fluted decoration and engraved borders of flowers, leaves and scrolls. The quality of this set is very good. The sugar bowl and cream jug have the original gilt interior. Weight 1894 grams, 60.9 troy ounces. Sheffield 1895. Maker Joseph Rocgers.
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Circa 1900
8809 Antique Silver Tea Set
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An antique colonial silver set consisting of teapot, water jug, milk jug and covered sugar bowl. Small size. Very charming with snake handles and elephant finials, the embossed decoration has elephants, lions, fish and palm trees. Total weight of set 913 grams, 29.3 troy ounces. Teapot contains 500 ml, height 13 cms, spread 21 cms. Unmarked silver. Indian, circa 1900.
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1903
Charles Boynton
9396 Queen Anne Style Silver Teapot
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An excellent copy of an antique Queen Anne sterling silver teapot (Queen Anne reigned 1702-1714). This plain baluster style with a domed lid and octagonal panelling was the first form of teapot introduced into England. The earlier the teapot the smaller it tended to be because tea was a very expensive commodity until the middle of the reign of King George III. Contains 440 ml. Weight 384 grams, 12.3 troy ounces. Height 16.5 cm. Spread 17.5 cm. London 1903. Maker Charles Boynton.
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