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 Goldfinch on Nest Pot and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica pot and cover which features a bird (goldfinch) sitting in it's nest. Colouration: grey, green, yellow, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the Minton ...
Majolica
19th Century Aqua Majolica Square Minton Jardiniere
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Aqua Minton Majolica square jardiniere with stand the square sectioned jardiniere simply decorated with a cattail on each corner. H / 7.8 inches. 6.4 by 6.4 inches.
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
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
Victorian Majolica Jardiniere Renaissance Minton, circa 1876
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Classical style for this large Majolica jardiniere or table centre signed Minton and dated 1876 cherubs handles and masks on each side of Renaissance Revival. On the middle of 19th c...
Majolica, Ceramic
Antique Staffordshire Painted Hen on Nest covered Box or Tureen, Circa 1880
By Staffordshire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Staffordshire Painted Hen on Nest Covered Box or Tureen, Circa 1880 A charming antique Staffordshire painted hen on a nest-covered box or tureen, dating to circa 1880. This ...
Porcelain
$2,850
H 8.75 in Dm 6.5 in
English Minton Japonisme Aesthetic Movement Majolica Aubergine Eggplant Vase
By Minton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Minton, a wonderful and extremely scarce majolica glazed Aubergine eggplant vase, dated 1875. An example of the Japonisme Aesthetic so desirable ...
Earthenware
Mintons Majolica Glazed John Henk Monumental Rooster, England 1910
By Minton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Minton, a monumental and scarce Rooster figure, Stoke-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, circa 1910. A mold designed by John Henk, this faithful representation of a proud roos...
Earthenware
$1,450
H 2.25 in W 5 in D 4 in
Art Deco Pale Green Shagreen Covered Box on Ball Feet and Bone Edged Lid
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pale green stained shagreen covered Art Deco box with bone trimmed hinged lid raised on ball feet. The bottom stamped "John C(?) ______(?) & Sons, LTD."
Bone, Shagreen, Wood
Vintage Hollywood Regency Cut Crystal Covered Box on Feet
By Tiffany & Co., Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant and timeless piece of décor. This antique cut crystal box showcases craftmanship and classic design. The box features deeply cut geometric and starburst motifs that catch a...
Crystal
Large 19th Century Aqua Majolica Jardiniere Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Minton Aqua Majolica Jardiniere with ram's head signed Minton. Height / 14.8 inches. 19 by 14 inches.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
$306Sale Price|55% Off
H 8.25 in W 5.25 in D 4 in
Majolica Tobacco Box Pot Jar by Johann Maresch, Austria, circa 1900
By Johann Maresch
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for one of our rare Majolica items, an exceptional tobacco box pot or jar out of the sack series by Johann Maresch from the beginning of the 20th century. The beautiful...
Majolica
$1,850
H 6.26 in W 8.25 in D 8.25 in
J. Holdcroft Majolica Japonisme Cobalt Box & Cover, Signed, English, ca. 1880
By Joseph Holdcroft
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Joseph Holdcroft Majolica Japonisme square shaped box and cover, glazed in cobalt blue, with relief molded flying cranes, flowering prunus branches, and squirrels, the cover bordered...
Majolica
19th Century French Majolica Dog on a Chimney Money Bank
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French Majolica Dog on a Chimney Money Bank.
Ceramic
$692Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in Dm 6.89 in
Majolica Basketweave Planter, Mintons, Green Glazed Ceramic, England, 1911
By Minton
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Mintons majolica basketweave planter, made in England in 1911, is a green glazed ceramic jardiniere distinguished by its richly modeled relie...
Enamel
$395
H 3.55 in W 6.7 in D 2.76 in
Midcentury Set Majolica Red Fish Ceramic Covered Sauce Tureen Box Salt & Pepper
By Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
Located in Coimbra, PT
Gorgeous small size set hyper realistic glazed ceramic fish covered sauce tureen and salt and pepper in shades of vibrant red and grey with dark accents ...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
Sold
H 3.5 in W 5 in D 6 in
Minton Majolica Purple Grape Cluster on Green Leaf Covered Box, date marked 1861
By Minton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We rarely use the term rare … here we have a VERY rare covered majolica box in the form of a cluster of grapes on a leaf tray, made by Minton in England, date marked 1861. One of on...
Earthenware
Christopher Dresser for Minton Pottery Lidded Bathroom Box, 1881
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish aesthetic movement Minton pottery bathroom or razor lidded box decorated with a printed design by Christopher Dresser. The long oval ended box has a central domed cover and...
Pottery
Minton Majolica Goldfinch Pot and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica trinket box which features a bird (goldfinch) sitting in it's nest. Colouration: brown, green, black, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the Minton po...