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.
Set of Six Antique 19th Century Hand Painted Minton Earthenware Ceramic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A set of six (one bonus tile thrown in of a double but in bad condition) Victorian hand painted Minton China Works in Stoke-upon-Trent, England, English tiles designed by John Moyr Smith...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Pair of Antique 19th Century John Moyr Smith Ceramic Tiles, Circa 1877
By Minton
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A pair of large Victorian hand painted Minton China Works in Stoke-upon-Trent, England, English tiles based on Scott's popular Waverly Novels, designed ...
Ceramic, Earthenware
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
Set of 9 Minton & Co Encaustic Floor Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 9 reclaimed Minton encaustic floor tiles ideal for a period cottage or townhouse. The set comprises of nine 6-inch by 6-inch tiles in Pugin style with a repeating white and ...
Clay
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
19th Century French Hand Painted Ceramic Barbotine Fruit Wall Platter
By Longchamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a kitchen wall or a breakfast room with this large antique majolica plate. Sculpted in France circa 1880 in the manner of Longchamp, the colorful porcelain platter is decora...
Ceramic, Majolica
$975 / set
H 15 in W 9 in D 1 in
Pair of 19th Century English Minton Framed Painted Ceramic Wall Plaques
By Minton
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in England circa 1880, and set in the original carved oak frames, each plaque is hand painted and stamped on the back Minton, London, England. Each porcelain, signed by the a...
Ceramic, Oak
Minton 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Hand-Painted Fish Platter
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This fish platter is a true work of art! Classic Aesthetic Movement whimsical decoration with fish in motion and in conversation with the viewer, it has a three-dimensional feel. Rea...
Porcelain
$1,049
H 16.34 in W 5.32 in D 0.79 in
Set of Three 19th Century Spanish Hand Painted Glazed Ceramic Patterned Tiles
Located in Marbella, ES
Set of three 19th century Spanish hand painted glazed ceramic patterned tiles Dimensions exclude frame.
Ceramic
Moroccan Handcrafted Encaustic Cement Tile, Moorish Design, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional leaves design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fe...
Cement
Set of Two Catalan Ceramic Tiles, Hand-Painted, Spain, Circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of Two Catalan Tiles – Early 20th Century This set of two ceramic tiles, made around 1940, is a charming representation of traditional hand-painted Catalan ceramics. Each tile f...
Ceramic
$10,725 / set
H 3.15 in W 18.9 in D 16.34 in
Pair of Antique Marble Shell Basins, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Beautiful pair of shell-shaped "bénitiers" (holy water vessels), carved out of Carrara marble. The sink is fairly shallow, with an elegant, scalloped lip. It is possible to have a ho...
Carrara Marble
$990
H 11.03 in W 11.03 in D 0.79 in
Set of Four 19th Century Portuguese Hand Painted Glazed Ceramic Patterned Tiles
Located in Marbella, ES
Antique set of four 19th century Portuguese hand painted glazed ceramic patterned tiles with white frame Dimension do not include frame.
Ceramic
Set of 16 Art Nouveau Glazed Tiles, Belgium, 1920
Located in Rijssen, NL
A unique and antique set of 16 Art Nouveau handmade tiles. Manufactured in Belgium, around 1920. A beautiful pattern and color (green). These tiles would be charming displayed on eas...
Ceramic
19th Century English Minton Majolica Oyster Plates Pair
By Minton
Located in Winter Park, FL
A pair of late 19th Century English Minton Majolica oyster plates with six oyster wells and a large well for crackers surrounding a center well for sauce. Luminous cream and pink gla...
Majolica
$325Sale Price|45% Off
H 2.62 in W 19.62 in D 15.62 in
Mid 19th Century English Staffordshire Minton Pattern Platter
By Minton
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Minton pattern Well & Tree of Life platter, English, Staffordshire, marked "New Stone" & BB (Best Body), date mark of 1858. Chip on one supporter. 19 5...
Ceramic
“La Suite Catalane” Set of 6 Tiles, 1954
Located in Berlin, DE
“La Suite Catalane” Complete set of 6 painted and glazed ceramic tiles after paintings by Salvador Dali´ (1904-1989) Spain, 1954. Stamped 1954 verso ...
Ceramic
Antique Set Encaustic Minton 'Stoke Upon Trent' Tile Floor 1920s
By Minton
Located in New York, NY
This antique encaustic tile set is red, blue, tan & white in color. The set includes 22 square feet total, which is 136 total tiles. Some tiles ...
Ceramic
Sold
H 11.75 in W 11.75 in D 1 in
Christopher Dresser for Minton English Arts & Crafts Floral Pottery Tile
By Minton, Christopher Dresser
Located in Astoria, NY
English Arts & Crafts Minton pottery tile designed by Christopher Dresser, late 19th century, featuring Art Nouveau / Aesthetic Movement lily of the valley floral motif, the tile rev...
Pottery
Six Large Mintons Ceramic Tiles Art Nouveau, 19th Century, circa 1885
By Minton
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a beautiful set of six large 8 inch square ceramic tiles in Art Nouveau patterns by Mintons China Works, Stoke on Trent, England, circa 1885. The tiles are made of earthenware and comprise two sets of three, forming two vertical Art...
Earthenware