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.
A.W.N Pugin Encaustic Prince of Wales Tile by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique A.W.N Pugin glazed encaustic tile by Minton & Co depicting the Prince of Wales coat of arms. This 5 inch square tile is adorned with three lions passant within a heraldic...
Clay
A.W.N. Pugin Glazed Coat of Arms Tile by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique A.W.N. Pugin glazed encaustic tile by Minton & Co depicting the coat of arms of the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury. This 6 inch square tile is adorned with a ramp...
Clay
A.W.N. Pugin Glazed Encaustic Monogram Tile by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Minton & Co (stamped) glazed encaustic tile attributed to A.W.N Pugin. This 6 inch square tile is adorned with the monogram ‘IHS' in bold text in buff clay on a deep red ...
Clay, Terracotta
A. W. N. Pugin Encaustic Tile Panel by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine 6-inch by 6-inch neo-medieval style encaustic tiles by Minton & Co (stamped); an exact match to an identical set in the British Museum attributed to architect and desig...
Steel
A.W.N Pugin Encaustic Coat of Arms Tile by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Minton glazed encaustic tile attrubiting to A.W.N Pugin, depicting the coat of arms of the Comyn family, made for St Giles Church Cheadl. This 6 inch square tile is decor...
Terracotta
W. Godwin Post-Medieval English Encaustic Tile c.1870
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 19th century post-medieval encaustic tile by English makers Godwin of Lugwardine; one of 6 similar we have available. Dating to circa 1870, this antique tile features a heraldic, ...
Clay
Large Victorian Gothic Minton tile designed by A. W. N. Pugin in ebonised frame
By Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Large 12" square Minton polychrome tile designed by A. W. N. Pugin in ebonised oak frame. Minton tiles of this scale are relatively rare.
Ceramic
Arts & Crafts Minton Pottery Tile Designed by Christopher Dresser
By Christopher Dresser, Minton
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A Minton pottery tile designed by Christopher Dresser in 1873. This tile, designed by Christopher Dresser and made in 1873, exemplifies the Aesthetic Movement ethos of the home as...
Earthenware
Ceramic Tile by William Godwin in Fleur-de-lis pattern, English 19th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative encaustic ceramic tile made by William Godwin, dating to the 19th century, circa 1870. This tile may have been originally made as a floor tile. Dimensions; 6 x 6 x 0.85 inches. This large tile is a beautiful pressed tile by the William Godwin Company of Lugwardine, Hereford, England. It is inlaid with cream, yellow/gold, dark chocolate brown and orange/red brown clays to form a central distinctive, four section fleur-de-lis pattern . The back of the tile is stamped with; Godwin, Lugwardine, Hereford. The Godwin tile...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Antique Relief Tile Panel in the Style of J. Parentani, 1890
By Sarreguemines
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning Art Nouveau/ Arts & Crafts tile panel from the superb firm, Craven Dunnill, & Co., Ltd, Jackfield Salop, England, circa 1905, in a bright celadon. This quantity original jug...
Earthenware, Pottery
Antique Spanish Triana Tile, Seville Spain Mudejar Grotesque Motif
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Spanish Triana Tile, Seville – Mudejar Grotesque Motif, Mensaque Rodríguez Attributed A rare and highly decorative antique Spanish ceramic tile, attributed to the renowned Mensaque Rodriguez workshop in the historic Triana district of Seville. Executed in the traditional Mudejar style, this handcrafted tile showcases the distinctive “arista” (raised-line) technique, characteristic of Andalusian pottery...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
Medieval Tile From Gravensteen (counts' Castle) – Ghent – 14th–15th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Medieval floor tile from the Gravensteen Castle – Ghent, 14th–15th century Rare red earthenware floor tile decorated with a heraldic lion, incised and inlaid with yellow slip under ...
Ceramic
