Place a lace tablecloth over a table. Use a couple of yards of lace fabric if you are unable to find an appropriate lace tablecloth. Fill a crystal bowl with fresh fruit and set it in the center of the table.
Set the table with antique plates or modern dinner plates decorated with flowers, a Toile motif, or other 1860s-period embellishments. Place an antique soup bowl on the center of each plate. The appropriate soup bowl is teacup-sized and features two handles. If you cannot find these, find inexpensive teacups, double the amount you need. Remove the handle on half the teacups, and glue them onto the remaining half to form two-handled teacups.
Place a silver soup spoon in front of each plate, and the rest of the utensils as you would a modern table setting, with the salad fork on left, knife and dinner fork on right. Place teacups and saucers to the right of each plate for coffee and tea.
Roll cloth napkins and thread through silver napkin rings. Place to the left of each plate. Fill a pitcher with water and place it in a corner of the table. Add pillar candles in plain candle holders, and a teapot if you'd like. Water glasses are also ideal. Place some salt and pepper shakers and vinegar on the tables.
Supply finger bowls with lemon or flower petals for washing before the dessert is served if you are serving an actual meal with your place setting. You also can include individual fruit bowls for each guest.