Antique Tableware

Luxury tableware is essential for any fine dining experience, and Mayfair Gallery is proud to present an elite selection of antique pieces suitable for the dining room. Each of our pieces is specially selected for its superb decorative design as well as for its practical functionality.

Whilst today we might take drinkware, serveware, and cutlery for granted, these objects have a long and complex history. Our prehistoric ancestors utilised natural forms as utensils, with seashells and hollowed stones acting as spoons. As the centuries progressed, cutlery items and tableware became essential parts of the dining experience, with the earliest versions made from wood, clay, and ivory.

The 17^th and 18^th centuries saw a number of innovations in tableware design, with wealthy aristocrats commissioning more elaborate pieces to solidify their status. In particular, the French King Louis XIV had a lasting impact on tableware styles, commissioning large platters and other ornate items crafted from silver, gold, and other precious materials. The multiple revivals within 19^th century decorative design – including Rococo, Neoclassical, and Louis XVI styles – meant that these elaborate tableware pieces became even more ornate. Mayfair Gallery is proud to present a large number of stunning 19^th and 20^th century pieces in a variety of superb styles.

An important innovation of 19^th and 20^th century tableware design was the centrepiece. Following the introduction of service à la russe during the 18^th century, whereby servants would hand food to the guests one by one, space became available on the dining table for large decorative elements, including floral arrangements and elaborate centrepieces. Mayfair Gallery’s collection includes several exquisite decorative pieces for the table in a host of precious materials, including esteemed makers such as Asprey and Meissen. We also present a number of exceptional surtout-de-tables - long, flat centrepieces often with mirrored surfaces, which were laid on the table to hold and reflect the other table decorations.

A particular highlight of the Mayfair Gallery tableware collection is our large number of antique tea and coffee sets. An institution of the dining experience for many cultures, the ritual of tea drinking is imbued with much significance and tradition, and our exquisite sets come from all over the world.

Mayfair Gallery’s extensive range of different types of tableware ensures that every stage of your dining experience is taken care of in a truly opulent fashion.

Learn more about the history of antique tableware in our blog here.