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.
$451Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 12.21 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Pair of Blue Art Nouveau Vases Flemish Pottery Antiques
Located in Poperinge, BE
A pair of antique Art Nouveau vases made of blue and green glazed majolica earthenware, better known as Flemish earthenware, marked "Made in Belgiu...
Earthenware, Majolica
$778 / set
H 8 in Dm 4.5 in
Bohemian Art Nouveau Harrach Purple on Cream Gilded Pair of Glass Vases, 1890
By Harrach Glassworks
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A vibrant Art Nouveau purple graduating to cream/ivory pair of deceptively heavy vases by Harrach decorated with raised gilding depicting blossoming branches - probably Prunus. Shape...
Art Glass
$3,900 / set
H 11.5 in Dm 4.5 in
Pair of Signed Val Saint Lambert Amethyst Art Nouveau Vases with Bronze Patina
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A lovely pair of signed Val Saint Lambert handblown amethyst crystal vases overlaid with a gilded bronze-patina; the body is decorated with a high relief depicting Irises decorated in a pure Art Nouveau...
Crystal
$647 / set
H 11.82 in Dm 6.7 in
Pair Of Art Nouveau Glazed Ceramic Vases With Floral Decoration, 20th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant pair of glazed ceramic vases in the Art Nouveau style, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. These pieces feature a superb glaze in graduated shades of celadon...
Ceramic
Pair of glazed ceramic vases by Arthur Craco, circa 1900.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of glazed ceramic vases by Arthur Craco. Artist monogram under the base. Circa 1900. H : 11.8 x 3.5 inches.
Ceramic
Bohemian Air Trap Harrach Purple on Cream Gilded Pair of Glass Vases, 1890
By Harrach Glassworks
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A vibrant pair of Air Trap, purple graduating to cream/ivory, pair of deceptively heavy vases by Harrach decorated with raised gilding depicting blossoming branches - probably Prunus...
Art Glass
$420Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 11.03 in W 7.88 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Art Nouveau Legras Vases - Year 1900
Located in Porto, PT
Pair of Art Nouveau Legras Vases - Year 1900. French, circa 1900, manufacture attributed to Legras, in shades of green with enameled decoration featuring gold lattice patterns, bows,...
Glass
$1,735 / set
H 15.36 in W 11.42 in D 6.7 in
A pair of Art Nouveau porcelain vases, produced by Amphora
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
A pair of Art Nouveau porcelain vases, produced by Amphora (Riessner, Stellmacher & Kessel) company in Austria (modern-day Trnovany, Czech Republic) between the late 19th and early 2...
Porcelain
$1,153 / set
H 7.88 in Dm 2.96 in
Pair of Colorful Art Nouveau Faience Vases by Andreas Ollestad, Norway 1890s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Two ceramic vases designed by Andreas Ollestad for Egersund Fayencefabrik, Norway 1890s. Deep, colorful and subtly faded glaze, very representative for the Norwegian ceramist Ollesta...
Faience
On Hold|$468 / set
H 8.57 in Dm 5.12 in
Ashby Potters Guild Pair Art Nouveau Streak Glazed Candlesticks
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional pair of Art Nouveau purple and blue streak glazed art pottery candlesticks dating between 1909 and 1922. The stoneware candlesticks are heavily potted standing on wide rounded bases with tall graduating column stems with bud shaped tops with flat rounded rims. The candlesticks are decorated in streaked blue and purple glazes over a lighter red glazed ground and both have clear glazed foot rims with recessed bases. The candlesticks are both impressed ASHBY GUILD...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Pair of Minton Secessionist Purple No.33 Vases
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Minton Secessionist fluted vases, decorated with typical Art Nouveau stylized flowers and leaves. Green tube lining detail, on purple ground. Printed maker's marks 'MINTONS L...
Pottery
Pair of Minton Secessionist Purple No.1 Vases
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Minton Secessionist No.1 vases of stretched barrel-like forms. The purple ground is decorated in blue and white slip-trailing, with green tube-lined outlines. Maker's marks t...
Earthenware
Pair of Minton Secessionist No.12 Two Handled Vases
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Minton secessionist two handled No.12 vase. Decorated in Art Nouveau style with ochre, pink and green glazes with black tube lined borders. Printed makers mark 'MINTONS LTD N...
Pottery
Pair of Minton Majolica Spring Daffodil Vases
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Minton Majolica vases which feature daffodils stood on bulb feet. Cobalt blue ground version. Colouration: cobalt blue, green, white, are predominant. The piece bears maker's...
Majolica
Pair of Art Nouveau WMF Maiden Vases
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Art Nouveau WMF twin handled vases, featuring maidens wearing flowing dresses. The bottom of the dress forms the base. A flowering tree flows up from the base. Complete with ...
Metal
Minton Secessionist No.1 Vase Rare Colourway
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Secessionist No.1 vase of stretched barrel-like form. Rare white ground with multi-coloured details version and black slip-trailed decoration. Maker's marks to base printed, '...
Earthenware
