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.
Minton Majolica Mushroom Tazza with Three-Frog Base, English, Dated 1868
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica Taza, molded as an inverted mushroom, the bowl interior glazed in orange, with three naturalistically modeled and glazed frogs around the stem,...
Majolica
English Minton Ancestral Bone China Floral Saucer or Trinket Dish, England
By Minton
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful bone china saucer or trinket dish in Minton's "Ancestral" pattern. With scalloped edges, painted in gold, and a floral green, red, and brown...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Paint
Antique Porcelain Chinoiserie Plate Hand Painted by Minton England Circa 1810
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
Made in England circa 1810, this Minton porcelain dish is a masterpiece of English Regency chinoiserie. The hand-painted scene exhibits vibrant colors, intricate details, and a playful spirit. The dish shows three young boys playing on a seesaw. The boys display a delightful childish innocence. Jean-Baptiste Pillement's drawings inspired this Minton image ( for more on Pillement, see below). The last image shows an image of Pillement's work. The underside of the plate shows the Minton mark in underglaze blue with pattern number 539. Dimensions: Diameter 8.25 in. x H 1.5 in. Condition: Excellent Price: $480 For more information on the Chinese Sports Series, see Loren Zeller's article "Jean-Baptiste Pillement's Recueil de Plusieurs Jeux d'Enfants Chinois: A Review of the Artist's Work as Source for 18th and 19th Century Ceramic Designs" in the Northern Ceramic Society Journal, Volume 32, June 20 Jean-Baptiste Pillement was a French painter and designer known for his exquisite and delicate drawings and the engravings done after his drawings. The drawings influenced the spread of the Rococo style, particularly the taste for chinoiserie throughout Europe. For an image of an item from this Minton pattern...
Porcelain
Minton Majolica Putti Figural Bowl
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica figural bowl which features putti holding leafy garlands, supporting the bowl. Colouration: cobalt blue, green, cream, are predom...
Earthenware
Minton Secessionist Chamber Pot
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Secessionist chamber pot. Decorated with motifs in the Art Nouveau style. Glazed in turquoise, ochre, brown and blue. Green tube lining. Mak...
Pottery
Pair Early Minton Porcelain Plates Hand-Painted & Bat-Printed, England Ca. 1805
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
Made in England around 1805, this exquisite pair of early Minton porcelain plates features beautifully hand-painted Oriental flowers and bamboo branches in vibrant shades of red, yellow, green, and gray. Part of the intricate design was first applied using a delicate red and yellow bat print...
Porcelain
Minton Majolica Pigeon Centrepiece Bowl
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica centrepiece bowl which features three pigeons perched on a leafy oak branch, supporting a large basketweave bowl on their fan tails. Bowl is decorated with oak leaves...
Majolica
Minton Secessionist No.8 Chamber Pot
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Secessionist No.8 chamber pot decorated with Art Nouveau style tree motifs. Glazed in blue, ochre and green with gray tube lining. Cream int...
Earthenware
$5,800 / set
H 1 in Dm 10 in
12 Heavily Gilt Encrusted Antique Green & Gold Minton England Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gorgeous set ! Please click on the pictures to see the detail and enlarge. Heavy raised paste gilding on a vibrant green collar and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retai...
Gold, Enamel
$405Sale Price|50% Off
H 5.52 in W 11.03 in D 11.03 in
Antique Victorian Historism Majolica Pedestal Bowl / Centerpiece Knights Dragons
By Villeroy & Boch
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This antique Historism centerpiece / pedestal bowl is made of polychrom glazed majolica and features four cartouches decorated with high relief knight helmets and dragons. The manufa...
Ceramic, Majolica
Vintage Japanese Toyo Porcelain Plate, Hand-Painted Floral, 1950s
By Toyo
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Japanese decorative porcelain plate beautifully decorated with gorgeous colors and peony design typical of Toyo of Japan, circa 1950s. It is absolut...
Porcelain
Antique Chinese quality famille rose hand painted plate
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Chinese quality famille rose hand painted plate having wonderful hand painted decorated panels with flowers, figures, birds and leaves in wonderful green, red, white, yellow,...
Ceramic
Rare Minton Majolica Posy Vase, circa 1875
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Minton Majolica Posy small vase modelled as three upright yellow bamboo canes all supported on an earthy ground.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Baccarat Crystal & Ormolu Figural Putti Centerpiece
By Baccarat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Baccarat Crystal and Ormolu Figural Putti Centerpiece France, circa 1890s A stunning Baccarat crystal and ormolu figural putti centerpiece is a masterful example of late 19th-centur...
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century Majolica Jardinière by Minton and Carlo Marochetti
By Minton
Located in London, GB
This exquisite jardinière was manufactured by the celebrated English company Minton, who are famous for their ceramics. It was designed by Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867), an Italian-born sculptor who worked in London in the latter part of his career. His most famous work is the bronze sculpture of Richard the Lionheart...
Majolica
Huge Minton Majolica Vase
By Minton
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1870, by Minton, England. A gorgeous example of English porcelain, this monumental vase is a Victorian Aesthetic movement tour de force. Majolica by Minton is known for its del...
Porcelain
$535
H 3.5 in Dm 7.75 in
18th C Chinese Export Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Blue and White ptn, Ca 1770
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Chinese Export porcelain bowl of mid size, hand painted in a blue and white floral pattern, which we date to the mid 18th Century, Circa 1770 or possibly slightly earlier. ...
Porcelain
Antique Meissen Porcelain Quatrefoil Miniature Hand-Painted Dish 1920s
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Meissen Porcelain Quatrefoil Miniature Dish, Hand-Painted, ca. 1920 An exquisite Meissen porcelain miniature dish, dating to the early 20th century, beautifully hand-painted ...
Porcelain
Hand-painted Japanese peacock tray plate
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Vintage Japanese tray or plate with beautiful hand-painted landscape scenery. Square with soft notched corners, cascading wisteria, vibrant peonies, and detailed peacocks, a symbol o...
Porcelain
$702Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.76 in Dm 5.52 in
12 Teacups and Saucers Minton Bone China Porcelain Haddon Hall
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
Set of 12 teacups and with their saucers in Minton Bone China Porcelain. Famous Minton Haddon Hall model designed by John William Wadsworth (1879-19...
Porcelain
Antique Porcelain Crazy Cow Pattern Dish, Hand-Painted England Circa 1820
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
This gorgeous porcelain plate is hand-painted in the delightful 'Crazy Cow' pattern. The design is animated and whimsical. Made by Minton in England circa 1820, the plate features a ...
Porcelain
19th Century Minton Majolica Rabbits Centerpiece
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Minton Majolica Rabbits Centerpiece. Charming aqua ceramic with white bunnies and leaves.
Ceramic
Sold
H 0.75 in Dm 8.75 in
2 Antique Porcelain Chinoiserie Plates Hand Painted by Minton England Circa 1805
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
These two Minton porcelain dishes are exceptional masterpieces of the ceramic art form. The chinoiserie scenes, painted by hand, exhibit intricate details, vibrant colors, and a play...
Porcelain
Minton Majolica Mushroom Tazza with Three-Frog Base, English, Dated 1868
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica Taza, molded as an inverted mushroom, the bowl interior glazed in orange, with three naturalistically modeled and glazed frogs around the stem,...
Majolica
Sold
H 6.5 in W 11 in D 7 in
Antique 19th Century Minton Majolica Centerpiece Tazza with Doves & Cherubs 1861
By Minton
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique Minton Majolica centerpiece/tazza, 1861. The centerpiece with a flanged shaped shallow dish supported with a pair of winged cher...
Maiolica
Sold
H 9.26 in W 9.26 in D 9.26 in
Antique Minton Staffordshire Porcelain Cabinet Plate Centerpiece Birds Turquoise
By Minton
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning Example of an English Minton Porcelain hand painted cabinet plate of circular form of outstanding quality. The central reserve exquisitely hand painted depicting two col...
Porcelain, Pottery
Minton Majolica Large Fruit Bowl with Three Pigeons Support, English, Dated 1870
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica fruit bowl, 12-ins. Dia., formed as a blind latticework basket with a turquoise interior, with a daisy chain molded rim, supported ...
Majolica
Sold
H 6.25 in W 11 in D 7 in
Minton Majolica Faun Reticulated Basket by A. Carrier-Belleuse, Dated 1871
By Minton, Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica Reticulated Basket Designed by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, the lozenge-shaped body with reticulated lattice with oak garlands and oval cartouches with mottled glazing, a faun to either side wearing cattail wreaths tied in a bow with pink glazed ribbon, on a scrolled and scalloped base glazed in turquoise and trimmed in yellow, the interior glazed in turquoise, the reverse with impressed marks, 'MINTON,' date cypher for 1871, and design number '1210,' which correspond to the entry...
Majolica
Cabinet Set Seven Antique Porcelain Botanical Plates by Minton Circa 1825
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
Each plate displays a single fabulous botanical flower filling the center and stretching onto the border. Several plates show butterflies and other insects hovering around the flower...
Porcelain
Minton Majolica Rabbits with Leaf Dish
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica figural bowl which features two rabbits amongst foliage, supporting a leaf. Colouration: turquoise, green, white, are predominant...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Pottery Gourd or Pumpkin Shaped Bowl Dated 1862
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and scarce Minton majolica gourd or pumpkin shaped pottery bowl decorated in colored glazes and dated 1862. The bowl of rounded form has a molded ribbed body with the base rec...
Pottery
Sold
H 1.58 in W 10.24 in D 6.3 in
Minton Majolica Turquoise Glazed Pottery Fish Shaped Serving Dish Dated 1872
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and scarce Minton majolica fish shaped pottery dish decorated in turquoise glazes and dated 1872. The dish stands raised on a narrow oval shaped base with a fish shaped body a...
Pottery