Royal Crown Derby Miniature Tea Set

Founded in 1750 by Andrew Planche and William Duesbury in Derby, England, the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company is one of the oldest original English manufacturers of fine bone china. Dating to the Georgian era, it has operated for more than 265 years. 

In 1761, the company, then called Derby Porcelain, created its first commemorative piece for the coronation of King George III. In 1775, King George III recognized the uniqueness and high quality of Derby Porcelain, giving the company the honor of using a crown on its back stamp. Queen Victoria gave further honors to the porcelain manufacturer in 1890, when she awarded the company a royal warrant and bestowed upon it the title of “The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.” 

In the years following the first royal appointment, the company employed some of its finest artistic creators, such as watercolor landscape painter Zachariah Boreman; flower painters William Billingsley, William Pegg and Walter Withers; and figure painters Richard Askew and James Banford. The company produced the most sought-after collectible pieces in its history under the direction of William Duesbury II. He died at 34 and his full vision for the company went unrealized; it subsequently entered a period of decline.

In 1811, Robert Bloor revived the company by employing excellent painters and producing exquisite serving pieces that featured the Japanese Imari style of bold colors and lavish details. The popular design continues to be produced today. Modern pieces such as the paperweight collection also remain in demand more than 40 years after their introduction.

Under the creative control of different partners over time, the company has had three main locations. Its current base of operations is in Derby, where it continues to produce fine ceramics and decorative collectibles.

On 1stDibs, find a selection of Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company bowls and baskets, dinner plates, centerpieces and more.

Your dining room table is a place where stories are shared and personalities shine — why not treat yourself and your guests to the finest antique and vintage glass, silver, ceramics and serveware for your meals?

Just like the people who sit around your table, your serveware has its own stories and will help you create new memories with your friends and loved ones. From ceramic pottery to glass vases, set your table with serving pieces that add even more personality, color and texture to your dining experience.

Invite serveware from around the world to join your table settings. For special occasions, dress up your plates with a striking Imari charger from 19th-century Japan or incorporate Richard Ginori’s Italian porcelain plates into your dining experience. Celebrate the English ritual of afternoon tea with a Japanese tea set and an antique Victorian kettle. No matter how big or small your dining area is, there is room for the stories of many cultures and varied histories, and there are plenty of ways to add pizzazz to your meals.

Add different textures and colors to your table with dinner plates and pitchers of ceramic and silver or a porcelain lidded tureen, a serving dish with side handles that is often used for soups. Although porcelain and ceramic are both made in a kiln, porcelain is made with more refined clay and is more durable than ceramic because it is denser. The latter is ideal for statement pieces — your tall mid-century modern ceramic vase is a guaranteed conversation starter. And while your earthenware or stoneware is maybe better suited to everyday lunches as opposed to the fine bone china you’ve reserved for a holiday meal, handcrafted studio pottery coffee mugs can still be a rich expression of your personal style.

“My motto is ‘Have fun with it,’” says author and celebrated hostess Stephanie Booth Shafran. “It’s yin and yang, high and low, Crate Barrel with Christofle silver. I like to mix it up — sometimes in the dining room, sometimes on the kitchen banquette, sometimes in the loggia. It transports your guests and makes them feel more comfortable and relaxed.”

Introduce elegance at supper with silver, such as a platter from celebrated Massachusetts silversmith manufacturer Reed and Barton or a regal copper-finish flatware set designed by International Silver Company, another New England company that was incorporated in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1898. By then, Meriden had already earned the nickname “Silver City” for its position as a major hub of silver manufacturing.

At the bar, try a vintage wine cooler to keep bottles cool before serving or an Art Deco decanter and whiskey set for after-dinner drinks — there are many possibilities and no wrong answers for tableware, barware and serveware. Explore an expansive collection of antique and vintage glass, ceramics, silver and serveware today on 1stDibs.