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.
Italian Glazed Terracotta Parrot Statue
Located in Antwerp, BE
A large beautiful parrot made of multi-coloured glazed terracotta. Italian glazed terracotta parrot statue. This stunning large Italian glazed terr...
Terracotta
20th Century Italian Majolica Macaw Sculpture, Hand-Painted Pottery
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautifully detailed sculpted pottery Macaw bird, perched on a branch with flowers. Made in Italy from majolica glazed pottery. Please confirm location NY ...
Majolica
$6,302
H 23.2 in W 18.1 in D 13.7 in
Art Deco Italian Ceramic Animal Figurine Macaw Parrot Porcelain Bird Figure
By Guido Cacciapuoti, Capodimonte
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Art Deco tall Italian animal Figurine Ceramic Parrot Macaw on a tree trunk Material: porcelain, ceramic, tin glazed Design: Cacciapuoti style...
Ceramic, Majolica, Porcelain
KPM Porcelain Model of a Parrot, Late 19th Century
By KPM Porcelain
Located in London, GB
A KPM porcelain model of a parrot German, late 19th century Measures: Height 23cm, width 12cm, depth 9cm Marked for KPM, the leading German porcelain makers, this charming and ...
Porcelain
$4,521
H 22.45 in W 9.85 in D 7.49 in
Exotic Bird Parrot Garden Figure Majolica Handcrafted and Hand Painted
By Joseph Wackerle
Located in München, Bavaria
This handcrafted majolica figure is perfect for your interior or garden. The material is frost resistant and does not fade in sunlight. The tropical flair makes it a perfect complime...
Maiolica
Vintage Regency Glazed Ceramic Parrot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Brighten up your decor with this stunning vintage glazed ceramic parrot. Handcrafted with exceptional detail, this vibrant piece showcases a spectrum of tropical colors, including pi...
Ceramic
Fine 19th Century Italian Porcelain Parrot
By Capodimonte
Located in Norwood, NJ
Colorful and finely painted porcelain parrot in greens, yellows and blues, perched on realistic branch with leaves and berries. Bottom with crowned ...
Porcelain
$3,190
H 12.25 in W 7.5 in D 5.5 in
French 19th century Porcelain de Paris Parrot, retailed by Benjamin Altman, NYC
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely decorative and most colorful French 19th century Porcelain de Paris Parrot, retailed by Benjamin Altman, NYC. This charming semi open winged parrot is perched atop of a ...
Porcelain
$1,200
H 9 in W 5 in D 6.5 in
Antique French Paris Porcelain Bourdois & Bloch Meissen Style Parrot Figure
By Porcelaine de Paris, Bloch & Bourdois
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning early 20th century French Belle Époque period Bourdois & Bloch Porcelaine de Paris Meissen style porcelain figure of a parrot. Made in Paris, France, circa 1910, exceptionally executed, exquisitely detailed throughout and displaying brilliant hand painted rich coloring, with a unique pierced beak, realistically modeled with wings slightly open perched atop a naturalistic tree stump base, Signed, underglaze blue crossed arrows mark to lower tree trunk. What truly stands out and is absolutely remarkable is how the maker/artist manged to make this work appear like a completely different sculpture depending on the angle it's viewed from. History: Paris Porcelain (Porcelain de Paris), a term that conjures images of grandeur, elegance, and sophistication; is to France what Dresden Porcelain is to Germany. Porcelain by a variety of makers from a region rather than one maker, it's the collective name given to the various porcelain studios and decorating workshops within and around Paris, France. In this case and many others Porcelain de Paris is also as good if not sometimes better than Dresden, Meissen or Sevres porcelain and is certainly a collectible to look out for. The Bourdoir and Bloch factory was originally founded around 1820 and specialized in producing fine quality porcelain in the style of the famous 18th century factories. This most distinctive figural bird was made by the Paris porcelain factory of Bourdoir and Bloch around 1910. This example bears the August 8, 1887 registered trademark of two blue crossed arrows, used around the time that Eugene Marx Clauss had joined forces with Achille Bloch and Leon Bourdois (who were both collaborators of Samson) and were operating under the name Clauss Co from 1887-1890 in the small factory started by Eugene's grandfather Jean-Marx Clauss in 1788 on rue de la Pierre-Levee in Paris. This Parisian antique porcelain parrot...
Porcelain
$9,500
H 29.75 in W 13.25 in D 16 in
Italian Majolica Poly Chromed Glazed Parrot Perched on Foliage Stump, C. 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Majolica poly chromed glazed vibrantly colored parrot perched on foliage berry stump, 19th century Signed Italy Meiselman Imports 10" Dia @ Base
Ceramic, Porcelain, Paint
Antique Vienna Bronze Parrot Bird Sculpture Inkwell
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Vienna Bronze Parrot Bird Sculpture Inkwell
Bronze
Archimede Seguso Italian Mid-Century Modern Blue & Green Bird Sculpture
By Archimede Seguso
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Archimede Seguso Italian Mid-Century Modern Blue & Green Bird Sculpture
Glass
Archimede Seguso Italian Mid-Century Modern Chartreuse Bird
By Archimede Seguso
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Archimede Seguso Italian Mid-Century Modern Chartreuse Bird
Glass
19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinese Man Figural Teapot
By Minton
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
19th-Century Majolica Minton Chinese man figural teapot. It is wonderfully whimsical and features a Chinese man form with excellent coloring. Additio...
Pottery
Antique Berlin KPM Porcelain Figural Group Sculpture
By KPM Porcelain
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Berlin KPM Porcelain Figural Group Sculpture
Porcelain
Antique Italian Polychrome and Giltwood Alter Candlestick, 18th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Unusual Antique 18th century Italian polychrome & giltwood Alter candlestick Additional information: Materials: giltwood, Polychrome ...
Giltwood
