The expression “the gilded age” itself was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner for the title of their 1873 satirical novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. Here is a look at five household items which every wealthy Gilded Age family owned. Gilded tea setsAfternoon tea painting | Fine Art Photographic/GettyImagesThe Gilded Age interest in all that glittered extended to the items in which everyday tea was served. Early telephonesThe wealth possessed by the richest Gilded Age families meant they had access to the latest technological inventions. Hidden doorsSecret black door in building | Dina GREEN / ShutterstockWealthy Gilded Age households employed many staff to carry out household duties.