Baroque porcelain: tableware, cups, glasses and vases in the baroque style
Baroque porcelain brings the dining culture of the great palaces to your own table. Gold rims, floral painting and curved handles turn a coffee table into an occasion. Glasses with engraving or painting belong to the picture too, as do large vases that shape a whole room.
Barockgrosshandel offers coffee cups in sets, coffee services, champagne and liqueur glasses, fruit bowls, candle holders and grand vases. We supply retailers, hotels, restaurants, interior designers and private customers. Here you can find out how to recognise good baroque tableware and how to combine it.
Hallmarks of baroque tableware
Baroque tableware draws its appeal from form and decoration alike. Cups often have a slightly bellied or ribbed shape and a delicately curved handle. Saucers and plates carry wide gold rims, rocaille work or floral wreaths. Colour often comes as a ground: white, lilac, blue or pink, combined with gold.
The interplay is what matters. A set of six coffee cups in white and gold looks calm and festive. A coffee service with multicoloured painting, on the other hand, becomes an eye-catcher in its own right. If there is a lot of decoration on the table, keep the tablecloth and napkins simple.
The shapes follow 18th-century models, when porcelain at court was a mark of status. Tables were laid as a complete picture back then, with tableware, glasses, candlesticks and centrepieces all in one style. This principle carries over well to today's table, even on a smaller scale.
Coffee cups and coffee services
Baroque coffee cups in sets of six are particularly popular, for example in white with gold or in lilac with gold. They are suitable for coffee and tea and form the basic equipment for a coffee table. Individual porcelain coffee cups with saucers are a good choice if you want to add to an existing service.
A complete coffee service with pot, sugar bowl and milk jug creates a cohesive table. The pot is often the most elaborate piece, with a finial on the lid and an ornamental spout. Services with gold decoration are generally intended for hand washing. Please note the instructions given for each product.
When adding pieces, it is worth checking the shade of gold. Some designs have a warm, reddish gold, others a bright, cool gold. Within one table setting the tones should match so the overall look stays calm.
Baroque glasses: champagne, liqueur and ornament
Porcelain calls for matching glasses. Baroque champagne glasses are often tall and slender, with gold decoration and hand engraving. Liqueur glasses are painted in blue and gold or in other strong colours. Both come in sets of six and are designed for hotels and restaurants as much as for the private table.
Many customers look for ornamented baroque glass, in white or with a bronze tone. Glasses like these look best when they play with the colour of the tableware. Gold glasses suit white and gold porcelain, blue glasses a service with a blue ground.
Sets are practical for receptions and bars because they can be combined freely. Champagne glasses for the aperitif, liqueur glasses with dessert: this creates a consistent line throughout the evening. The glasses are handmade, so small variations in engraving and painting are part of their charm.
Porcelain vases, fruit bowls and candle holders
Large porcelain vases are the grand side of the subject. Lidded vases in red and gold or black and bronze reach heights from around 80 cm to over 1.20 m. Some stand on a pedestal of their own and so take the place of a sculpture. Vase sets in pale blue and gold look superb in pairs either side of a fireplace or a console.
Fruit bowls with brass handles and porcelain candle holders link the table with the room. They stand on the dining table, a sideboard or a chest of drawers. More vessels for flowers and decoration are on the baroque vases page, and you will find further accessories under baroque decor.
Porcelain vases work even without flowers. A lidded vase on a console in the hallway or two floor vases beside a doorway create symmetry. Large vases are best placed on a firm, level surface and away from walkways.
The baroque table in the dining room
A baroque table setting starts with the table itself. A heavy dining table with carved legs and upholstered chairs gives the tableware the right frame. Above it, a chandelier provides warm light that makes the gold rims shine. The baroque dining room page offers ideas for the whole room.
A fruit bowl or a pair of candle holders works well in the centre of the table. Make sure the decoration stays low enough for guests to see one another. A display cabinet in the same room stores the service and shows it off at the same time. You will find suitable models under baroque display cabinets.
Laying the table follows the classic order: plates in the centre, glasses at the top right, cups only when coffee is served. A table runner in cream or gold links the places and picks up the colour of the gold rims.
Porcelain for hotels, restaurants and cafés
In commercial settings, a consistent look is what counts. Hotels and cafés like to use baroque tableware for special occasions: breakfast in the suite, afternoon tea or a champagne reception. Sets of six make planning easier, as quantities are simple to scale up.
As a wholesaler, we supply cups, glasses and vases together with furniture from the same style world. That way table, chairs and lighting all match. You will find complete baroque style furnishings under baroque furniture.
For venues with many events, a reserve is worthwhile. An extra set of cups or glasses replaces individual pieces without disturbing the look of the table.
Price range and care
Prices range from around €170 for a set of liqueur glasses and about €500 for a coffee service to over €3,000 for a large lidded vase. You will find the full range in the designer porcelain and glassware and designer porcelain categories.
Gold and hand painting are delicate. Wash such tableware by hand with a mild washing-up liquid and dry it with a soft cloth. Abrasive cleaners and the dishwasher damage the decoration. Large vases are dusted dry and only filled with water inside if the manufacturer allows it.
Matching pieces from our range
View all items in Designer Porcelain / Glass Goods
Frequently asked questions
Is baroque porcelain dishwasher safe?
Tableware with gold rims or hand painting should be washed by hand. Hot water and aggressive detergents damage the decoration. The instructions given for each product are what counts.
What baroque style coffee cups are available?
Sets of six in white with gold or in lilac with gold are popular. There are also individual cups with saucers and complete coffee services. All of them are suitable for coffee and tea.
Do baroque glasses go with any tableware?
Glasses that pick up a colour from the tableware look most harmonious. Gold glasses suit white and gold, blue glasses porcelain with a blue ground. Plain crystal glasses almost always work.
How large are baroque porcelain vases?
The range is wide. Table vases start at around 50 cm tall, and lidded vases reach 80 cm and more. Vases on pedestals and floor vases can be over 1.30 m tall.
Is baroque tableware suitable for restaurants?
Yes, especially for special occasions such as afternoon tea, receptions or suites. Sets of six make it easier to plan quantities. Because it needs hand washing, it is less suited to everyday service with a high turnover.
Do you supply retailers?
Barockgrosshandel supplies retailers, hotels, interior designers and private customers. Porcelain and glasses can be combined with furniture and lighting from the same style world.
What does a baroque style coffee service include?
A coffee service usually includes a pot, sugar bowl, milk jug and cups with saucers. The pieces share the same decoration, often with gold. The product description lists exactly what is included.
How do I position large porcelain vases safely?
Choose a level, stable surface and a spot away from walkways. Vases on pedestals are already designed for stability. In rooms with children or pets, a niche or corner is advisable.