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.
Precious Minton peaches gold & silver hand painted Aesthetic Movement Plate 1880
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent porcelain plate signed by Minton, dated 1880, embodies the artistic refinement of the Aesthetic Movement. Finely hand-decorated, it features raised motifs of beautif...
Porcelain
Minton grape gold & silver hand painted Aesthetic Movement Plate 1880
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent porcelain plate signed by Minton, dated 1880, embodies the artistic refinement of the Aesthetic Movement. Finely hand-decorated, it features raised motifs of beautif...
Porcelain
Christopher Dresser Japonism Yellow Minton Plate, 1876
By Minton, Christopher Dresser
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow Aesthetic Minton Porcelain Plate in the style of Japonism creations made by Christopher Dresser. Round plate adorned with an oriental fan representing a lovely and colorful bi...
Porcelain
Limoges porcelain plate hand-painted roses circa 1903-1912
By Limoges
Located in Paris, FR
An elegant Limoges porcelain plate, beautifully executed by the esteemed Paroutaud Frères (B & P), operating in Limoges, France, during the early 20th century. This plate exemplifies...
Porcelain
Dessert plate, Kioto service, Creil et Montereau, 1878 - 1884
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Paris, FR
A stunning dessert plate from the "Kioto" collection by the renowned Creil et Montereau manufacturer, dating back to 1878-1884. This fine earthenware piece, typical of the japonisme ...
Ceramic
Dessert plate, Kioto service, Creil et Montereau, 1878 - 1884
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Paris, FR
A stunning dessert plate from the "Kioto" collection by the renowned Creil et Montereau manufacturer, dating back to 1878-1884. This fine earthenware piece, typical of the japonisme ...
Ceramic
Atrrib Minton Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Cabinet Dessert Plate Leaf Decor
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This rare 19th c. hand painted cabinet plate is attributed to Minton and bears a mark for the renown London retailer A. B. Daniell & Son. The white ground provides a nice contrast an...
Porcelain
Davenport - Four Antique Porcelain Gilt Decorated Saucers - UK - circa 1870-87
By Davenport Porcelain
Located in Chatham, ON
DAVENPORT - antique - fine quality - set of four gilt decorated porcelain saucers with birds - impressed mark to each plate - printed mark on one saucer - Staffordshire - England - c...
Porcelain
19th Century French Creil & Montereau Hand Painted Aesthetic Movement Charger
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This outstanding hand painted 19th century French ceramic charger was made by Hautin Boulenger & Cie at Creil & Montereau. The highly detailed Aesthetic Movement charger features polychrome decoration depicting a Japanese quail perched in a flowering cherry tree bearing vivid green foliage. The bird's gaze is fixed on a colorful butterfly with intricately patterned wings which is located off to one side. The image is set on a gilt ground which bears a series of repeating raised gilt motifs. The charger's shoulder is finished in cobalt blue with stylized gilt hearts separated by light blue floral and foliate elements. The 4lb 11oz charger bears an impressed mark used by Creil et Montereau between 1876-1884. The foot rim is not pierced. This beautifully executed hand painted French charger...
Ceramic
Limoges Porcelain Plate, circa 1860 by Sazerat Leon, Signed and Numbered France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This plate demonstrates the attractiveness of French ceramists from the second half of the 19th century aesthetics and Far Eastern culture. Fascinated by its colors, shapes, artists redouble their ingenuity to give new aesthetic to their ceramics. This plate was realized by the Manufacture of Leon...
Porcelain
White and Gold Gilted Porcelain Plate by Meissen, Germany, 1950s
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Rijssen, NL
Porcelain plate with a rich gold decor, made by Meissen Porcelain, Germany in around 1950. It was the first porcelain factory in Europe to produce true porcelain outside of Asia. T...
Porcelain
Antique Hand Painted / Gilt Decorated Porcelain Wall Plate
By Limoges
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Transport yourself to the elegance of early 19th century France with this exquisite hand-painted and gilt gold decorated porcelain wall plate, crafted by renowned artisans in Limoges...
Gold
