Silverplate Beehive Tea Service, Three Pieces with Bakelite Finials, Mid-Twentieth Century

Story

A three-piece tea service, teapot, lidded sugar and creamer, in a beehive form. Horizontal ribbing wraps every surface and catches the light in bands. The black Bakelite handle and acorn finials supply the contrast.

No monograms, no engraving. The shape does all the work.

Origin

Sourced at a flea market in Atlanta. Unmarked, but consistent with European silver-plated hollowware of the mid-20th century.

Condition

Pristine. No dents, plate wear, or tarnish. All lids fit securely. Bakelite handle and finials intact with no chips or cracks.

Dimensions

Teapot: approximately 7 in. H to top of finial × 6 in. W from spout to handle.
Sugar bowl: approximately 5 in. H.
Creamer: approximately 3.5 in. H.

Sourcing Note

I saw these across the market and more or less made a beeline for them. I’ve always had a weakness for tea sets, though I’m not entirely sure why. There is something about the combination of ritual, utility and sculpture that gets me every time.

This one was unlike anything I had seen in a very long time. The beehive forms are so strong on their own, but it was the contrast of the silver plate with the dark Bakelite handle and finials that really made the set feel special.

What I love most is that they don’t need to be used as a proper tea service to earn their place. I could see them just as easily on a bookshelf or sideboard, almost as a group of small sculptures, as I could set out on a table for tea.

They have that rare quality I’m always looking for: familiar in purpose, but completely unexpected in form.

From the road: Atlanta Field Notes →