Tea Cups, Mugs & Tea Time Essentials

Tea Cups, Teapots & Ceramic Mugs

A tea cup and a coffee mug aren’t quite the same vessel - tea cups are typically smaller, with a slim handle sized for two fingers, built to keep tea hot without over-steeping, while mugs are larger and made for a longer sit. This collection carries both, alongside matching teapots and serving pieces, from Ginori 1735 - the Florentine porcelain house founded in that year - and Astier de Villatte’s hand-glazed Paris ceramics, plus illustrated pieces from Rory Dobner and design pieces from Tom Dixon.

What’s in the Collection

• Tea cups & saucers: porcelain pieces from Ginori 1735, including the gold-rimmed Oriente collection, alongside hand-glazed ceramic tea cups from Astier de Villatte.

• Mugs: a mix of Astier de Villatte’s hand-glazed everyday mugs (Rien, Colbert, Octave, and illustrated pieces like Clover, Dragonfly, and Heart) and Rory Dobner’s more whimsical Wonderland Majestic Mug.

• Teapots: Ginori 1735’s Oriente Gold teapot and Astier de Villatte’s Rien, Octave, and Adelaide teapots - four distinct sizes and styles to pair with the cups above.

• Serving accessories: a sugar bowl, milk jug, and sugar dish from Rory Dobner and Tom Dixon, for rounding out a full table setting rather than just a single cup.

• Tea: organic loose and bagged teas - mint blend, green jasmine, green, and chamomile - to go with any of the above.

Tea Cup or Mug - What’s the Difference?

Size and ritual, mostly. A tea cup’s smaller volume and thin walls are built to let a hot pour cool to drinking temperature quickly, which matters more for tea, generally drunk in smaller, more frequent servings, than for coffee. A mug holds more and retains heat longer, suited to a single longer-lasting cup. Neither is strictly better - it comes down to how you actually drink what’s in it.

Building a Full Tea Service

The easiest way to build a matching set from this collection is to start with one line rather than mixing every piece - Ginori’s Oriente Gold teapot, cup, and saucer form a complete set on their own, and Astier de Villatte’s Rien teapot and mug do the same in a more casual register. From there, a sugar bowl or milk jug from a different line (Rory Dobner or Tom Dixon) adds contrast without needing to match exactly.

Caring for Porcelain & Hand-Glazed Ceramic

Gold-rimmed porcelain, like Ginori’s Oriente Gold pieces, generally shouldn’t go in the microwave - metallic trim can spark - and is safest hand-washed to protect the finish over time. Astier de Villatte’s hand-glazed pieces carry the same natural piece-to-piece variation as the rest of their tableware, since each is glazed and fired by hand rather than machine-finished.

Shop the Collection

Browse the full range below, or explore the wider Drinkware & Barware collection and Kitchen & Dining for everything else on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a tea cup and a coffee mug?

Tea cups are typically smaller with a slim handle, built to let tea cool to drinking temperature quickly and suited to shorter, more frequent servings. Mugs hold more, retain heat longer, and are built for a single longer sit.

Is Ginori 1735 real porcelain?

Yes - Ginori 1735 is an Italian porcelain manufacturer based in Florence, founded in the year its name references, and its pieces in this collection, including the Oriente Gold line, are porcelain.

Can gold-rimmed tea cups go in the microwave or dishwasher?

Gold and other metallic trims generally shouldn’t go in the microwave, since metal can spark, and are usually safest hand-washed to protect the finish. Check the individual product page for care instructions specific to each piece.

Are the teas sold here loose leaf or in bags?

The product listings don’t specify the format explicitly, so it’s worth checking the individual product page or confirming before you buy if that matters to how you brew.

Can I mix pieces from different lines - Ginori, Astier de Villatte, Rory Dobner - on the same table?

Yes - a common approach is to build the core set (teapot, cup, saucer) from one line and add a serving piece, like a sugar bowl or milk jug, from a different line for contrast rather than trying to match everything exactly.