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.
Mintons Blue Willow Pattern Large Jardiniere
By Minton
Located in Mobile, AL
Thomas Minton is believed to have created the famous Blue Willow Pattern and sold the original design to Thomas Turner in the 18th century. The pattern is clearly inspired by Canton Chinese Export...
Pottery
Delfts Royal Boch Blue and White Chinoiserie Porcelain Cachepot
Located in Elkhart, IN
A handsome mid-20th-century ceramic cachepot by Royal Boch, decorated in deep cobalt blue against a crisp white ground. The design combines dense floral sprays with architectural pan...
Porcelain
$1,450
H 6 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
19th century Chinese Export Blue & White Porcelain Cachepot Planter Vase
Located in Litchfield, CT
Finely decorated 19th c. Chinese blue and white porcelain planter urn in the form of a barrel with brown glazed hoops and richly painted staves. Decorated all over with a floral patt...
Porcelain
Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Jardinière with Carp, Circa 1900
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This striking Chinese blue and white porcelain jardinière, dating to the early 20th century, is richly decorated with a continuous scene of stylized carp swimming among aquatic plant...
Porcelain, Paint
Blue and White Porcelain Asian Cache Pot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Blue and White Porcelain Asian Cache Pot. Very large pot with amazing hand painted details. Add this gorgeous pot to your Collection. Perfect...
Porcelain
$850
H 4.75 in W 6 in D 4.5 in
Blue and White Porcelain Ceramic Planter Pot or Vessel Vase Chinoiserie
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Blue and white ceramic or porcelain planter. The piece features scrollwork detail on rim, and flora and fauna depictions throughout. The bottom is signed with a "7" at the bottom. ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Vintage Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Cache Pot on Stand, 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Chinese blue and white cache pot on stand. Planter measures 12" in diameter & 9.50" high.
Porcelain
Blue and White Porcelain Cache Pot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous Blue and White Porcelain Asian Cache Pot. nice size and shape good for 2 orchids. Add some Asian accents to your Design Project.
Porcelain
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Pots
Located in Queens, NY
2 Asian Chinese-style (20th Century) blue and white porcelain jardinieres (PRICED EACH)
Vintage Porcelain Cache-Pot Planter with Blue and White Landscape
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese vintage porcelain cache-pot planter from the mid 20th century with hand-painted blue and white décor depicting landscapes, architectures and figures in boats patterns. Created in China during the midcentury period, this porcelain cache-pot features a tapering silhouette perfectly accented by a blue and white décor. Showcasing an opening of 10.5 inches diameter, the piece is adorned on its upper lip with geometric motifs inspired by honeycombs, surrounding delicate floral motifs. The round tapering body attracts all of our attention with its delicate hand painted décor presenting traditional architectures such as pagodas set...
Porcelain
