Cooking & Dining for sale | Bubble Interior

Table services, tea and coffee sets, cutlery canteens, decanters and serving pieces from Christofle, Villeroy & Boch, Richard Ginori, Bernardaud, Meissen, WMF and others.

What you will find

Complete dinner and table services in porcelain and stoneware, tea and coffee services, silverplated cutlery sets (often a full canteen for six or twelve), serving pieces such as tureens and platters, decanters, wine accessories, salt and pepper sets and napkin rings. Frequent names include Christofle, Villeroy & Boch, Richard Ginori, Bernardaud (Limoges), Meissen, WMF, Baccarat and Fortnum & Mason. Most pieces here are between EUR 300 and EUR 800.

Reading a title

Number in brackets: the number of pieces included. "Table service for 12 (115)" means a service for twelve people with 115 pieces in total.
Pattern name: such as Meissen Onion Pattern (Zwiebelmuster) or Villeroy & Boch Amapola, useful if you want to add to a set you already own.
Material: porcelain, fine bone china, stoneware, crystal or silverplated.

Silverplated cutlery

Silverplated means a silver layer over a base metal. Christofle and WMF plate is well regarded for its thickness; wear shows first on the backs of spoons and the tines of forks. Solid silver pieces are listed in Silver & Gold Decor.

Using vintage tableware

Many services are listed as barely used or unused. Check the photos for chips, crazing in the glaze and wear to gold rims. Hand-wash anything with gold or platinum decoration and old silverplate, as dishwashers dull gilding and plating. Lead crystal decanters are best used for serving, not long-term storage of wine or spirits.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Table service for 12 (115)" mean?

The first number is how many people the service is designed for, and the number in brackets is the total count of pieces included, such as dinner plates, soup plates, side plates, serving dishes and cups. A service for twelve with 115 pieces is a large, near-complete set. The exact breakdown of pieces is normally given in the listing description or photos.

Is vintage porcelain dinnerware dishwasher safe?

Plain modern porcelain from makers such as Villeroy & Boch is usually dishwasher safe, but anything with gold, platinum or hand-painted overglaze decoration should be washed by hand, because dishwasher detergent gradually removes it. Older pieces with crazed glaze are also better hand-washed, as water can seep into the fine cracks and stain the body.

How long does silverplated cutlery last?

Good-quality silverplate from makers such as Christofle or WMF can last for decades of regular use. Wear appears first where cutlery touches the table or plate, such as the backs of spoon bowls. Hand-washing, drying straight away and avoiding contact with stainless steel in the dishwasher all help. Worn pieces can be re-plated by a specialist.