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.
Vintage famille Rose Porcelain plate with birds and flowers hand painted decor
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage famille Rose Porcelain plate with birds and flowers hand painted decorations. Antique famille Rose Medallion Chinese Export Porcelain by Hong horizons. Features highly detail...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Cantonese Plate Paradise Birds, 19th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Stunning quality paintwork. Very detailed. With a central scene of paradise birds and butterfly. Additional information: Material: Porcelain & Pottery Type: Plates Region of Origin:...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Porcelain Cantonese Dish Bird Butterfly Flower, 19 C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very nice and unusual cantonese deep dish in polychrome colors. Stunningly painted with a typical central scene of flowers, birds and butterflies. The central scene seems to have ...
Porcelain
Kangxi Period Chinese Porcelain Kakiemon Plate Birds Magpies, 18 C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A Japanese Kakiemon-style bird-and-flower painting has been used here by a Dutch painter to decorate a Chinese porcelain blank. The grouping of a pair of magpies, plum blossoms, and ...
Porcelain
Chinese Kangxi Famille Verte Plate with Magpie & Butterfly, Circa 1695
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very beautifully hand painted Chinese porcelain "Famille Verte" Plate, dating to the late 17th Century Qing Kangxi period ( 1662-1722), probably Circa 1695. This is a well...
Porcelain
$2,485
H 1 in W 9.75 in D 9.75 in
Pair Mintons Porcelain Cabinet Plates Decorated with Hand Painted Exotic Birds
By Minton
Located in Litchfield, CT
Pair Antique Mintons porcelain cabinet plates decorated with hand painted exotic birds in a fanciful landscape on a celadon ground enhanced by gilding. Retailed by Thomas Goode, Lond...
Porcelain
Wedgwood Chinoiserie Charger Plate
Located in New York, NY
Wedgwood Chinoiserie charger plate. Wedgwood chinoiserie shallow-bowled plate with lobed peach slip edge. Fantastical rose apricot, peach and pale...
Creamware
$202
H 1.97 in Dm 10.24 in
English Faience 19th Century, Hand Painted, Flowers and Birds Decor Pattern
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Plate in Faience. It has been made in England in the 19th century. It is hand painted. With flowers and bird pattern decoration. Red color.
Faience
18th Century French Faience Nevers Plate - Chinoiserie Bird Decor - 9 in
By Nevers
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Authentic 18th-century French faience plate from Nevers, dating to circa 1760-1790. The plate is decorated with a charming hand-painted scene featuring birds among flowering plants, ...
Faience
Antique Encre de Chine Plate with Flower Bird, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely encre de chine plate with a central flower scene. With red also in the painting. The border is very detailed, also with birds. Additional information: Material: Porcelain & P...
Porcelain
Majolica Paradise Bird & Flowers Salins Plate, circa 1890
By Salins
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Paradise bird & flowers Salins plate, circa 1890.
Ceramic
French Majolica Bird & Flower Plate, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird & flower plate, Circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
French Majolica Bird & Flower Plate, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird & flower plate, Circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
French Majolica Bird & Flower Plate, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird & flower plate, Circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
French Majolica Bird & Flower Plate, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird & flower plate, Circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
French Majolica Bird & Flower Plate, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird & flower plate, Circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
