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.
Pair of Antique Ridgway “Noma” Plates - Hand-Painted Orientalist Design
By Ridgway Porcelain
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Elevate your collection with this exquisite pair of antique Ridgway porcelain plates, dating to the mid-19th century and decorated in the dis...
Faience, Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Plates, Pair, Dulong Rococo Relief, Hand Painted Floral - 9.8”
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A highly refined pair of authentic Meissen porcelain plates, embodying the elegance and sophistication of late 18th century design traditions. Executed in a richly modelled Rococo r...
Porcelain
18th Century French Sinceny Faience Plates with Birds and Floral Decoration, Set
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A rare set of four French faience plates, attributed to the Sinceny manufactory, 18th century. Each plate is hand-painted with a polychrome bird perched among flowering branches, wit...
Faience
19th Century German Porcelain Plates Pair, O.F.L Mark, Hand Painted Landscapes
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Elegant pair of 19th-century German porcelain plates, produced in the Franconian / Bavarian region and marked O.F.L. Each plate features a finely hand-painted pastoral landscape in t...
Porcelain
1893-1915 Meissen Neubrandenstein Relief Plates with Floral Decoration
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A refined pair of Meissen porcelain plates featuring the celebrated Neubrandenstein relief border, delicately decorated with hand-painted floral bouquets, scattered blossoms and inse...
Porcelain
Pair of Spanish Fajalauza Pottery Bowls with Bird and Pomegranate Motifs - 14.6
By Cerámica de Fajalauza
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A decorative pair of large Spanish Fajalauza pottery bowls, likely produced in Granada during the early 20th century, hand-painted in the traditional cobalt blue and green palette as...
Earthenware
Rare Pair Antique Ironstone Mason's Ashworth Chinoiserie Large Dinner Plates
By Ashworth Ironstone
Located in New York, NY
Rare early pair of antique Mason's Ashworth Ironstone Chinoiserie pattern hand enameled and transfer decorated large dinner plates 19th Century Vibrant, joyful colors of orange, mul...
Ironstone
Pair of Antique Chinese Decorative Ceramic Plates with a dragon pattern
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of antique Chinese porcelain plates featuring a blue and white glaze design of a mythical creature, possibly a qilin or dragon, surrounded by clo...
Ceramic
A Pair Of Worcester " Dragons in Compartments " Porcelain Dishes
Located in Huntington, NY
A Pair of porcelain dishes in the " Dragons in Compartments " or " Bengal Tiger " pattern each with scalloped English Worchester, circa 1800, 8.88" Diameter
Porcelain
Pair of 18th Century Chinese Export Imari Plates
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of 18th Century Chinese Export Imari plates with blues, red, greens, & black.
Porcelain
Dinner and Side Plate English Ironstone in Flying Bird Ptn, 19th Century
By Davenport Porcelain
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is two English ironstone plates; one dinner plate by Davenport and one side plate by Mason's, both in the flying Bird gilded pattern. Both plates are well potted and hand pai...
Ironstone
Pair, 19th Century Chinese Export "Thousand Butterfly" Porcelain Plates 9.5"
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinese, early 19th century. A pair of Chinese export porcelain "Thousand Butterfly" pattern porcelain plates. Each enamel decorated in the famille...
Porcelain
