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 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
Antique 8-inch Decorative Neoclassical Tile by Minton
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique 8-inch decorative neoclassical tile by Minton (stamped), one of two similar we are selling in matching sepia tones. This large, glazed, dust-pressed tile depicts a highly...
Clay
Minton Hollins 6-Inch Terracotta Profile Portrait Tile
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A superb antique 6-inch dust-pressed terracotta tile by Minton Hollins & Co. (stamped) depicting a profile portrait in the aesthetic movement style. Such is this tiles beauty, that the back is equally as interesting as the front, showcasing how the portrait profile is pressed into the terracotta to bring life and shape to the relief figure at the front. Dating from the mid-late 19th century, the figure is carved with ornate Celtic style dress before a plentiful scrolling background impressed with the name ‘GAEL’ to the top. Ex British collection, this original Minton Hollins tile...
Clay, Terracotta
Minton Tile of ‘Classical Figures with Musical Instruments’ by John Moyr Smith
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Minton tile from the series ‘Classical Figures with Musical Instruments’ designed by the artist John Moyr Smith. This 8 inch tile depicts a nobleman in roman style dress ...
Clay
Antique Minton & Co Encaustic Tile of Archangel
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Minton & Co encaustic tile of an archangel. Displayed on a custom made steel stand, this tile's beauty can be admired up close in any period property looking to appreciat...
Metal, Steel
Antique Minton Tile of Musical Classical Figures by John Moyr Smith
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Minton tile from the series ‘Classical Figures with Musical Instruments’ designed by the artist John Moyr Smith. This 8 inch tile depicts a man in noble dress playing a h...
Clay
Minton & Co 8-inch Neoclassical Sepia Tile
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique 8-inch decorative neoclassical tile by Minton (stamped), one of two similar we are selling in matching sepia tones. This large, glazed, dust-pressed tile depicts a highly...
Clay
Antique Minton & Hollins Tile Splashback
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 28 reclaimed Minton & Hollins tiles (stamped to reverse), ideal for use as a unique antique tile splashback, entranceway floor or fireplace hearth in a period cottage or Vic...
Clay
Reclaimed Mythological Tile by Minton Hollins
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A reclaimed 8-inch clay tile by Minton Hollins & Co. (stamped to reverse) illustrated with a mythological scene from Shakespeare’s 1593 poem ‘Venus and Adonis’. Inspired by Greek myt...
Clay
Christopher Dresser Faux Cloisonne Vases for Mintons
By Minton
Located in New York, US
Our exceptional pair of enameled porcelain vases in the Chinese cloisonné style were designed by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) for Mintons. They feature one side with a dragon an...
Porcelain
Pair of Minton Aesthetic Movement Tiled Jardinieres with Lily of the Valley
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This pair of jardinieres is made of 19th century Mintons porcelain tiles which have been mounted into later constructed jardinieres. The tiles are all matching, each one decorated with lily of the valley floral motifs. Beautifully detailed constructed beaded boxes, frame these Aesthetic Movement tiles...
Porcelain
Set of 4 Antique Minton Tiles of Delft Design
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of four antique Minton tiles after designs by Dutch Delft tiles, sourced from an ex British private collection. Dating to circa 1860, these striking 5-inch tiles have been in ...
Clay
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
Set of 4 Minton & Co Encaustic Floor Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 4 reclaimed Minton encaustic floor tiles perfect for a period cottage or townhouse. The set comprises of four 6-inch by 6-inch tiles in Pugin style with a repeating mustard ...
Clay
Victorian Minton centre piece
By Minton
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting and very good quality Victorian 19th Century Minton porcelain centre piece, having two putti carrying a large vase. Batch 75. N/H
Porcelain
Set of 12 Antique Minton & Co. Encaustic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Each tile stamped ‘Minton & Co’ to the reverse. These were originally used as floor tiles. We think they would make a great splash back to a basin. Size as...
Clay
Minton & Co 6-inch Encaustic Heraldic Tile on Stand
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A rare and likely unique mid 19th century encaustic floor tile by Minton & Co (stamped) with heraldic design, depicting a bear and swan between the letter ‘B’ and a crown. This 6-inc...
Steel
Set of 9 Minton & Co Encaustic Floor Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 9 reclaimed Minton encaustic floor tiles perfect for a period cottage or townhouse. The set comprises of nine 6-inch by 6-inch tiles in Pugin style with a repeating mustard ...
Clay