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.
Rare Antique Mintons Majolica Oyster Server / Stand with Seaweed & Coral
By Minton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English majolica pottery oyster stand or server. By Mintons. With 6 oyster shells strewn around a figural mound of seaweed and coral. The center with two dipping wel...
Majolica
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
19th Century Minton White Majolica Oyster Plate
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century Minton white Majolica oyster plate. Dated 1880.
Ceramic
$185
H 0.75 in Dm 9.5 in
Mid-Century Orfinox French Faience Mustard Yellow Seaweed Oyster Plate, 1960s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A mid-century oyster or seafood plate, made by Orfinox, circa 1960s. A mustard yellow ground with six oyster shell shaped wells for holding the oyster, clam, or mussel meat, with ...
Faience
$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
Large Antique Italian Majolica Platter, Bacchus and Ariadne
By Annibale Carracci
Located in Dallas, TX
At over two feet in diameter, this stunning majolica platter or charger, is particularly large. The painted scene painted was taken from a ceiling fresco known as the Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne...
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 Aqua Oyster Plate by Minton, Ceramic, England, 1880
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th-Century Victorian Majolica aqua oyster plate signed Minton.
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Plate by Sarreguemines, Faience 19th Century, France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This Plate is a Majolica plate made in the Sarreguemines Manufacture. This glazed Faience, is in yellow and green color. It has been done in the 19th century.
Faience
19th Century Majolica Minton Pineapple Pitcher
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Majolica Minton Pineapple Pitcher.
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
Minton Majolica Putti Comport
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica compote which features two putti wearing grape vine garlands around their heads, and draped in brown cloth, kneeling on a leafy ground. They support a bowl with a sca...
Majolica
19th Century Majolica Asparagus Plate
By Salins
Located in Paris, FR
This 19th century Majolica asparagus hand painted plate was made in France. This Majolica dish is in the style of the Salins-les-Bains Craft.
Majolica
19th Century Green Majolica Cake Stand Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century oval Majolica cake stand signed Minton.
Ceramic
19th Century English Minton Majolica Oyster Plate
By Minton
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century English Minton Majolica oyster plate, with an aqua blue center well and six mauve pink oyster wells separated by seashells, scallops and green seaweed in relief on bro...
Majolica
19th Century English Majolica Oyster Plate Signed Minton
By Minton
Located in Winter Park, FL
A good English Majolica plate, dated 1885 and marked Minton, with turquoise and cobalt blue oyster plate with a central well surrounded by small ochre flowers. Six small and one larg...
Majolica