A tea set not for copious drinking, but for beautiful moments.
Product Description
This is an antique tea set made in Europe, characterized by its petite size. It is a highly complete set, including a tray, teapot, milk pitcher, sugar bowl, and two cups and saucers. While seemingly cute and small, these are not children's toys, but rather a salon tea set for enjoying demitasse coffee or strong tea. In Europe, there was a tea time culture that valued manners and atmosphere over quantity. The floral pattern is a stylized rose decoration rather than a realistic depiction. The gold gilding on the rims and handles, while showing signs of wear, still conveys the splendor of the era. Slight distortions and individual differences are the charm of tableware from an age that involved handcrafting, not mechanical mass production. (R070172)
Specifications:
・Origin: Europe
・Period: Late 19th to early 20th century (estimated)
・Material: Pottery
・Set contents:
Tray ×1 (approx. 25cm diameter)
Teapot ×1 (approx. 12cm height / body approx. 8cm)
Milk pitcher ×1
Sugar bowl ×1
Cup & saucer ×2
Cup size:
Height approx. 4cm
Rim diameter approx. 6cm
・Condition: Gold gilding rubbed, signs of aging. No cracks or chips that impede practical use.
*As this is an antique item, please understand that there may be individual differences and signs of age.
Recommended Uses:
Ideal for display and decoration in cafes, tearooms, restaurants, hotel lobbies, boutiques, general stores, galleries, museum shops, etc. Simply placing it in a showcase or on a shelf adds elegance and delicate beauty to the space, creating the ambiance of European antiques.
Highlights:
・Elegant and special presence created by its smaller-than-usual size
・European salon beauty woven by gold gilding and floral paintings
・High collection value due to its complete configuration
・A "small, authentic tea set" that can actually be used
・A piece that is highly visually appealing for display
Special Notes:
The flowers depicted are not realistic but rather decorative flowers (stylized roses) commonly used in European porcelain. This is a very common "rose garland" motif in decorative porcelain from the late 19th to early 20th century in the French/German sphere. It is best to consider them as decorative flowers symbolizing "abundance, domestic happiness, and elegant time," rather than specific botanical roses. In Europe, there was a tea time that prioritized "form" and "manners" over quantity. Small vessels were a symbol of refinement and the upper class; this tea set was likely "for drinking beautifully" rather than "for drinking a lot." At the time, small demitasse spoons, sized to match these vessels, were likely used. Spoons were often used separately as daily items, so it is natural that they are not present now. This is a quiet tea set from an era when even spoons were kept to a minimum.
*Based on AI research.
