Dear Sharon,

Thanks for sending this set in. Looks like a sweet meat set for serving food on the table but those have no lids. I do not believe its a vanity set but more a set for rings and things and for decorative purposes. Its Chinese and not very old, late 20th century I would say. Its made of porcelain and its silver plated and not pure silver I believe. This is made for export to the west ( USA / Europe ) and not meant to be used in Chinese household. The text is : hundreds of followers around the phoenix. Phoenix, in the middle is a mythical bird in Chinese mythology and used often on works of art or objects of practical use.