Luxury Tableware Import Guide
Wedgwood / Royal Copenhagen / Hermès Mosaique / Villeroy Boch / Bernardaud / Le Creuset: Brands, Bone China and Import Duty 2026

Luxury tableware is a growing category in Taiwan: wedding gift lists are shifting from appliances to bone china, and brands such as Wedgwood, Royal Copenhagen and Hermès often show price gaps between European official sites and official Taiwan retail (subject to current prices and exchange rates). However, porcelain, bone china and glassware are fragile, and HowBridge always refuses them (HowBridge only handles Mainland China → Taiwan consolidation). This guide only covers six luxury tableware brands, materials, wedding setups and import taxes; to buy, use the brand’s Taiwan counters or authorised retailers, or the brand’s official site if it ships directly to Taiwan (per the site’s terms).

🏛️ 1. Overview of 6 Luxury Tableware Brands

European luxury tableware has a long history: Wedgwood (UK, 1759), Royal Copenhagen (Denmark, 1775), and Bernardaud (Limoges, France, 1863) are three major centuries-old makers associated with royal and elite dining. Hermès Mosaique au 24, Villeroy & Boch, and Le Creuset are 19th- and 20th-century luxury and premium houseware icons.

The biggest gap is on Le Creuset cast-iron cookware at roughly 50%, followed by Wedgwood tea sets at 47% and Royal Copenhagen at 33%. Villeroy & Boch is a practical entry-level choice; each plate may only save about NT$700, but a newlywed 8-person setting with 48 pieces can create a total difference of NT$33,600.

🦴 2. Bone China vs Vitrified Porcelain: How to Choose

Luxury tableware generally falls into four material groups: bone china, porcelain, vitrified porcelain, and stoneware. Price, texture, and durability vary significantly.

Bone China - Wedgwood / Bernardaud / Royal Doulton

• Contains 30-45% bone ash, with a translucent white body and a clear ringing tone
• About 30% stronger than regular porcelain, but still vulnerable to impact
• Highest price tier, typically EUR 60-300 per dinner plate
• Best for entertaining, collecting, and formal wedding table settings
• Not microwave-safe when gold-rimmed; many pieces are not dishwasher-safe

Porcelain - Royal Copenhagen / Hermès / Limoges

• Fired at around 1300°C and does not contain bone ash
• Dense and non-absorbent, with a cooler tone than bone china
• Mid-to-high price range, typically EUR 30-200 per dinner plate
• Some hand-painted pieces are not dishwasher-safe

Vitrified Porcelain - Villeroy & Boch / Pillivuyt

• Resists thermal shock and is suitable for restaurant use
• High strength, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe
• Most affordable tier, typically EUR 15-50 per dinner plate
• Best for everyday use

Stoneware - Le Creuset / Émile Henry

• Fired at a lower temperature of around 1100°C, with slight porosity
• Commonly used for baking dishes, casseroles, and mass-production lines
• Lower price range, typically EUR 25-90

💍 3. Complete Wedding Gift Setup

Based on 2024-2026 trends, these are the most common wedding gift combinations, grouped into luxury, mid-range, and entry-level budgets.

Tier 1: Full Luxury Setup (NT$80,000+)

1. Dinner plates 27cm × 6 - Hermès Mosaique au 24 (EUR 235 × 6 = NT$44,400)
2. Soup plates 22cm × 6 - Bernardaud Limoges (EUR 168 × 6 = NT$31,800)
3. Tea cup sets × 6 - Wedgwood Wild Strawberry (GBP 162 = NT$6,500)
4. Total around NT$82,700, suitable for entertaining 6 guests and collecting

Tier 2: Mid-Range Setup (NT$30,000-50,000)

1. Dinner plates 25cm × 8 - Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain (DKK 1,036 × 8 = NT$38,000)
2. Soup bowls 14cm × 8 - Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted (DKK 686 × 8 = NT$25,200)
3. Tea cup sets × 8 - Wedgwood Wild Strawberry (GBP 162 = NT$6,500)
4. Total around NT$69,700

Tier 3: Practical Entry Setup (NT$15,000-25,000)

1. Dinner plates 27cm × 12 - Villeroy & Boch French Garden (EUR 28 × 12 = NT$10,560)
2. Soup bowls 14cm × 12 - Villeroy & Boch French Garden (EUR 22 × 12 = NT$8,300)
3. Le Creuset 24cm cast-iron cocotte × 1 - Cherry Red (EUR 218 = NT$6,900)
4. Total around NT$25,760 for everyday entertaining up to 12 guests plus one stew pot

📋 5. 7.5% Import Duty + VAT Refund Process

Porcelain tableware (HS 6911) entering Taiwan is subject to 7.5% customs duty plus 5% business tax, for an effective total of about 13.0% after compounding. The duty-free threshold is CIF taxable value at or below NT$2,000 from 2026 onward. Full Hermès or Wedgwood sets usually exceed the threshold and must be taxed.

VAT Refund Process (Common Across Europe)

1. UK Wedgwood - VAT is 20%; after Brexit, some brands restored VAT-free exports for orders shipped outside the UK. Wedgwood's official site supports this and automatically deducts VAT when Taiwan is selected as the shipping destination
2. Denmark Royal Copenhagen - VAT is 25%; the official site can deduct VAT automatically when tax-free shipping is selected
3. France Hermès / Bernardaud / Le Creuset - VAT is 20%; Hermès online orders are generally local-delivery only, so store purchase plus airport tax refund is required. Bernardaud and Le Creuset official sites support automatic VAT removal for shipments outside the EU
4. Germany Villeroy & Boch - VAT is 19%; the official site deducts VAT automatically when Taiwan shipping is selected

❓ 8. FAQ