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.
Large 19th Century Aqua Majolica Jardiniere Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Minton Aqua Majolica Jardiniere with ram's head signed Minton. Height / 14.8 inches. 19 by 14 inches.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
French Victorian Turquoise Sevres Cheret Urn
By Gustave-Joseph Chéret, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian monumental turquoise Sevres porcelain vase with cupids in relief on round pedestal base (signed JOSEPH CHERET)
Porcelain
Chinese Early 19th Century Powder Blue Glazed Gilt Overlay Vase
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine early 19th century Chinese powder blue glazed gilt overlay vase has a very beautiful and dynamic mottled glaze. The gilded overlay consists of designs of censors and vases ...
Porcelain
$18,783
H 33 in W 13.5 in D 13.5 in
A 19th Century Bleu Deck Turquoise Vase by Théodore Deck, Large Size, Circa 1867
By Theodore Deck
Located in England, GB
An exceptional example of Théodore Deck’s most iconic work, glazed in his turquoise bleu Deck and conceived in the Chinese manner. An applied lion-mask with a suspended ring enhances...
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Teal Moon Flask Vase, Porcelain, Circa 1850
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) teal moon flask porcelain vase decorated with a red crackle overlay and topped with two stepped handles (mark on bottom, see photos). Condition: ...
Porcelain
Ormolu-Mounted Sèvres Style Turquoise-Ground Vase and Cover
Located in New York, NY
A fine ormolu-mounted Sèvres style turquoise-ground vase and cover The finely painted spurious blue interlaced signed ‘A Collot’ with a seated maiden emblematic of spring attend...
Ormolu
$2,782
H 17.72 in Dm 7.09 in
Monumental 19th Century French Turquoise Opaline Glass Centerpiece Urn with Hand
Located in London, GB
A spectacular and monumental mid-to-late 19th-century antique French turquoise opaline glass centerpiece urn, measuring an impressive 45 cm in height and 18 cm in diameter. Crafted f...
Opaline Glass
$9,043
H 13.39 in W 11.03 in D 9.26 in
A 19th Century Japonisme Turquoise Jardinière By Jules Vieillard & Cie.
Located in England, GB
An impressive and very rare 19th century French 'Japonisme' brass mounted turquoise fine earthenware jardinière by French ceramic artist Jules Vieillard & Co, dated between 1880-...
Ceramic
George Jones Majolica Turquoise Ground Jardiniere
Located in Essex, MA
With a registry lozenge on base. Decorated on a turquoise ground with flowers and birds.
Pottery
$1,250
H 15.5 in Dm 11 in
Chinoiserie Style Elephant Handles Glaze Turquoise Ceramic & Terracotta Urn Vase
Located in Miami, FL
Marked glaze ceramic decorative urn, vase in terracotta and elephant handles. Finished in a beautiful warm Turquoise and Brown Hue with smooth Textures. Marked at the Base E and sign...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Pair of English 19th Century Turquoise Ground Painted Porcelain Urns by Minton
By Edouard Rischgitz, Minton
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of English 19th century turquoise ground and parcel-gilt painted porcelain urn vases, urns by Minton. The tapered shaped urns raised on a slender stem with turquoise grou...
Porcelain
Large 19th Century Chinese Porcelain and French Figural Ormolu Centerpiece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large 19th century Chinese porcelain and French figural ormolu-mounted Chinoiserie style centerpiece. The circular ovoid bowl, maybe 18th century Jiaqing period (unve...
Ormolu
Fine French 19th Century Napoleon III Sèvres Style Porcelain Urn Signed Ch Fuchs
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th century Napoleon III Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu-mounted covered urn, the 360 degree painted urn centered with an 18th century romantic scene of two ladies a...
Ormolu
A French 19th Century Napoleon III Sévres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Urn
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th Century Napoleon III Sévres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Covered Urn, the 360 degree painted urn centered with an 18th century scene of a young Princess...
Ormolu
Fine Pair of 19th Century Cobalt-Blue and Parcel-Gilt Majolica Figural Vases
By Minton
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of 19th century cobalt-blue and parcel-gilt majolica figural vases, with figures of satyrs and gilt decorations of flowers and butterflies. Probably English, circa 1...
Ceramic
Impressive Pair 19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Export Blue Porcelain Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Large and Impressive 19th Century Pair of Japanese Meiji Period Export Blue-Celeste, White and Porcelain Vases. The ornately decorated bottle-shaped celadon vases, each with feline decorations amongst tree-branches and parcel-gilt and ruby-red painted flowers. The bottom of one signed in Japanese “Dai...
Porcelain
