Pottery is one of the oldest decorative art forms, and Minton is one of its historical masters. For more than 250 years, the English company was a premier producer of porcelain and ceramic wares. Its factory was known for detailed and brightly colored Victorian tableware, including dinner plates and serving pieces.
Thomas Minton founded the Minton factory in 1793 in Stoke-upon-Trent, England. It initially made earthenware but introduced bone china in 1798. When Minton died in 1836, the company passed to his son, Herbert Minton. The younger Minton was a savvy businessman with an eye for design. He introduced glossy majolica earthenware to the factory’s repertoire and hired skilled artists and designers like Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, boosting the company’s reputation.
In 1851, Minton debuted its majolica at the Great Exhibition in London. It became a royal family favorite and was even used to tile the Royal Dairy at Windsor Home Park. Minton majolica was also displayed on the monumental Saint George and the dragon fountain at the 1862 London International Exhibition.
Colin Minton Campbell, a nephew of Herbert Minton, took over the family business in 1858. He led the company to the head of the 1870s English art pottery movement. In the 1890s, French porcelain artist Marc-Louis Solon helped modernize Minton with his Art Nouveau designs.
Minton ceased operating as an independent company when it merged with Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd. in 1968. It was the end of an era, but not the end of widespread appreciation for Minton ceramics.
In 1982, the ”English Majolica” exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum featured 75 Minton pieces. When the Metropolitan Museum of Art reopened its British Galleries in 2020, it included a display of three colorful Minton majolica bird sculptures. Minton pottery was also on display from September 2021 to January 2022, along with other English pottery, at the Bard Graduate Center’s ”Majolica Mania” exhibition.
On 1stDibs, find exquisite Minton serveware, decorative objects, wall decorations and more.
Pair of Antique Copeland Framed Tiles of Classical Scenes
By Copeland
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking pair of antique Copeland tiles depicting classical scenes, displayed in beautiful gilt frames. Expertly hand painted, these ceramic 8 inch tiles showcase a male musician ...
Ceramic
19th Century Framed Minton Tile Panel Commissioned by William Waldorf Astor
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An exceptional 19th century framed Minton tile panel commissioned by William Waldorf Astor for Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire. This vivid 14 tile panel is decorated with cupids ho...
Clay, Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Set of 6 Antique Barrowclough & Sanders Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of six early 19th century tiles decorated Barrowclough & Sanders on a Minton tile. In Neoclassical style, each 5 inch tile showcases classically dressed figures, musicians, an...
Clay
19th Century Set of Hand Painted Tiles In Gilt Frames
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An interesting set of hand painted tiles in gilt Frames with countryside scenes. Finely painted with exceptional detail, these two scenes have themes of still water and reflections....
Wood, Paint, Ceramic
Pair of Antique Framed Neoclassical Tile Panels
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of antique framed tile panels depicting decorative Neoclassical portraits. Dating to circa 1870, each plaque is carefully hand painted in a tonal blue on a vivid ochre backgr...
Clay, Wood
Antique W. B. Simpson & Sons Framed Tile Panel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique W. B. Simpson & Sons tile panel depicting a Neoclassical design. The set of four hand painted tiles form a beautiful decorative panel of a classically styled vase with sc...
Clay, Wood
Set of Four Antique 19th Century European Hand Painted Tiles in Wooden Frame
Located in New Orleans, LA
Set of four antique 19th century European hand painted porcelain tiles in wooden frame.
Porcelain
Pair of Signed Allen Wedgwood Hand Painted Porcelain Plaques of Children
By Wedgwood
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This exquisite pair of hand-painted Wedgwood porcelain plaques, painted by Thomas Allen, is a beautiful example of the Aesthetic Movement. The delicate, intricate designs and vibrant...
Enamel
Antique 2 tiles Women in Classical Dress, Mintons China Works, c. 1870
By Wedgwood
Located in Norton, MA
Hand-painted, Antique 2 tiles Women in Classical Dress, Mintons China Works, c. 1870, molded marker's mark, tiles 4" x 8", frames 5 3/4" x 10"
Ceramic
Framed Set of Early 20th Century Hand-Painted Catalan Tiles
Located in Barcelona, ES
This beautifully framed set of early 20th-century Catalan tiles showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and vibrant artistry of the period. Created by an unknown artist and manufacture...
Ceramic
Pair of painted porcelain plaques signed Bigot, France, late 19th century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of painted porcelain plaques signed Bigot, France, late 19th century. Dimensions with frame: 46 cm height, 41 cm width, 6 cm depth.
Porcelain, Wood
Three Framed Plates from "L'ornement Polychrome" Edited by Racinet
By Auguste Racinet
Located in Hanover, MA
Three mounted and giltwood framed chromolithograph plates from L'Ornement Polychrome: Motifs de tous les styles, art ancien et asiatique, Moyen Age, Renaissance, XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, by A. Racinet, 1869-1873. Published by Firmin-Didot, Paris. Specifically, the three framed plates are Middle Ages, Renaissance and 17th century. This reference work “created to render major services to our industrial arts” brings the archeological art...
Giltwood
