1 of 18

Minton Garniture Decorated and Signed by Antonin Boullemier, 1891

Name: Minton Garniture Decorated and Signed by Antonin Boullemier, 1891
Brand: Minton
Rating: 5 (44 reviews)

$9,750List Priceper set

About the Item

This is a stunning garniture consisting of two lidded vases and a ewer, made by Minton in 1891 and painted by the famous porcelain artist Antonin Boullemier. Minton was one of the pioneers of English china production alongside other great potters such as Spode, Davenport, Ridgway, Coalport and others. They were located in Staffordshire and were known specifically for their wonderfully fine white bone china, parian china and bright colours; there is a colour called "Minton Blue" which is a fresh azure blue that Minton excelled in. Minton produced the finest British porcelain, often thanks to the fact that they sourced some of their best artists and scientists from the French Sèvres factory. Minton supplied huge quantities of tablewares, tiles, and other items to the USA in the 19th century, the White House was traditionally supplied with Minton crockery and many great buildings of this era were tiled with Minton tiles. This garniture is decorated by the famous porcelain artist Antonin Boullemier, who was the son of a Sevres decorator and was apprenticed and employed by Sevres, before moving the England in 1881, where he was employed by Minton. For many years he worked exclusively for Minton as one of their most celebrated artists; later on his career he started working freelance from his own studio at home for various factories. Boullemier is known for beautiful depictions of portraits, cupids and mythological subjects and both 18th century and contemporary styles. This garniture is decorated in stunning mazarine blue with extremely fine gilding. The style is very much like the famous Sevres pieces, and the ewer has a stunning mask on the base of the handle. The panels painted by Boullemier show a girl catching butterflies, a cupid watching a bird in a tree, and a girl fishing. Condition report: The vases are in excellent antique condition without any damage or repairs, and no significant wear other than some extremely light scratches to the gilt, as can be expected of items this age. There is a slight firing fault on underside of foot of one vase (not visible when in position, see picture of underside). All items have some very fine crazing that does not distract. Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account. There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Dimensions: height vases (incl. finial) 33cm (13"), ewer 28.8cm (11.25").

Creator:
Minton (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Width: 1 in (2.54 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 3
Style:
Late Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Porcelain,Gilt,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1890-1899
Date of Manufacture:
1891
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In excellent condition without any damage or repairs, only the slightest rubbing to gilt, slight firing fault on underside of foot of one vase (not visible when in position). All items have some very fine crazing that does not distract.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: LT-MIN011stDibs: LU4805115180882

Shop All Minton

Minton

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.

Rare 19 C. English Mintons Pâte-Sur-Pâte Porcelain Covered Vases, by Louis Solon

$118,800 / set

H 14 in W 8 in D 4 in

Rare 19 C. English Mintons Pâte-Sur-Pâte Porcelain Covered Vases, by Louis Solon

By Minton

Located in New York, NY

A Highly Important and Very Rare Pair of 19th Century English Mintons Olive Green Ground Pâte-Sur-Pâte Porcelain Covered Moon-Flask Form Vases, Signed by Louis Solon. These Mintons p...

Category

Antique 1880s English Louis XVI Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Large Sevres style porcelain garniture, C19th

$34,796

H 29.14 in W 13.78 in D 8.27 in

Large Sevres style porcelain garniture, C19th

By Cristalleries De Sevres

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very impressive, fine quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain garniture, comprising of a pair of lidded vases, each with wonderful gilded pierced ormolu mounts and ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Garniture

Materials

Ormolu

Vienna Style Porcelain Vases with Ormolu, Signed, Austria, Circa 1910

$44,539

H 24.41 in W 16.54 in D 7.88 in

Vienna Style Porcelain Vases with Ormolu, Signed, Austria, Circa 1910

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Fine and Large Pair of Vienna Style Porcelain Vases and Covers, on Stands. Each of urn out-shape with loop handles. Each with cobalt blue-ground neck and cover with gilt-embossed ...

Category

Vintage 1910s Austrian Vases

Materials

Ormolu

Large Sevres Style Garniture, 19th Century

$34,796 / set

H 20.08 in W 21.66 in D 11.42 in

Large Sevres Style Garniture, 19th Century

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very impressive, beautifully painted Sevres style porcelain garniture, having a pair of lidded urns on either side of a large comport, with gilde...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Garniture

Materials

Ormolu

Three-Piece English Porcelain Assembled Garniture, Staffordshire, circa 1820

$40,000 / set

H 25.5 in Dm 4 in

Three-Piece English Porcelain Assembled Garniture, Staffordshire, circa 1820

By Staffordshire

Located in New York, NY

Three-piece English porcelain assembled garniture, Staffordshire, circa 1820

Category

Antique 1820s English Vases

Pair 19th Century French Sevres Style Porcelain Vases

$5,276 / set

H 19.69 in W 8.67 in D 5.91 in

Pair 19th Century French Sevres Style Porcelain Vases

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A good quality pair of late 19th century French Sevres style porcelain vases, each with classical gilded ormolu mask handles to either si...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Vases

Materials

Porcelain

A Monumental Pair Of Late 19th/Early 20th Century Sevres Style Porcelain And Orm

$104,389 / item

H 41.34 in W 18.12 in D 15.75 in

A Monumental Pair Of Late 19th/Early 20th Century Sevres Style Porcelain And Orm

Located in London, GB

The large lidded urns each with a pair of ormolu scrolling handles, the domed covers marked with a Sevres mark to the underside, the porcelain signed 'Jocelyn', depicting classical s...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Sèvres Style Ormolu and Porcelain Vase with Decoration by Maxant, Circa 1895

$34,448

H 41 in W 15 in D 10.5 in

Sèvres Style Ormolu and Porcelain Vase with Decoration by Maxant, Circa 1895

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in London, GB

A Large Ormolu-Mounted Sèvres Style Porcelain Vase The cobalt-blue ground vase of baluster form with waisted domed cover, the neck gilt with a dot-and-trellis cartouche within an el...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Vases

Materials

Ormolu

Twin-Handled Garniture Vase and Cover, Hand-Painted Late 19th Century Minton

$1,865

H 13 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in

Twin-Handled Garniture Vase and Cover, Hand-Painted Late 19th Century Minton

Located in Wembley, GB

A superb late 19th century Minton twin-handled garniture vase and cover, exquisitely hand-painted by the celebrated artist Antonin Boullemier (signed A. Boullemier). The ovoid porcel...

Category

Antique Early 1900s British Art Deco Ceramics

Materials

Resin, Organic Material, Stoneware, Pottery, Porcelain, Ceramic

19th Century Fine Quality Pair of Sèvres Style Porcelain Vases

$65,000 / set

H 43 in Dm 17.5 in

19th Century Fine Quality Pair of Sèvres Style Porcelain Vases

Located in New York, NY

Each cobalt ground with gilding, trumpet-form neck over baluster form body decorated with a figural scene in the garden, reverse with a garden folly, gilt...

Category