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 Porcelain "English Rose" Pattern Part Dinner Service, 20th Century
By Minton
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Minton porcelain 'English Rose' pattern part dinner service 20th century. Comprising nine dinner plates 10¾ in. (27.3 cm.) diameter. Nine 6 1/8 in.(15.5cm.) bread and butter...
Porcelain
Majolica Oyster Plate by Minton 1876 Turquoise
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
Majolica oyster plate by the English manufactory Minton. Lovely turquoise color with iridescent green tones on the middle of the plate. Decorated with refined shells, perfect to evok...
Majolica
Minton lemons gold & silver hand painted Aesthetic Movement Plate 1880
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent porcelain plate signed by Minton, dated 1880, embodies the artistic refinement of the Aesthetic Movement. Finely hand-decorated, it features raised motifs of beautif...
Porcelain
Minton grape gold & silver hand painted Aesthetic Movement Plate 1880
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent porcelain plate signed by Minton, dated 1880, embodies the artistic refinement of the Aesthetic Movement. Finely hand-decorated, it features raised motifs of beautif...
Porcelain
Christopher Dresser Aesthetic movement Japonism style Pink Minton Plate 1876
By Minton, Christopher Dresser
Located in Paris, FR
Pink Aesthetic Minton Porcelain plate in the style of Japonism creations made by Christopher Dresser. Round plate adorned with an oriental fan representing a lovely and colorful bird...
Porcelain
Christopher Dresser Aesthetic Movement Japonism Style Green Minton Plate, 1876
By Christopher Dresser, Minton
Located in Paris, FR
Green Aesthetic Minton Porcelain Plate in the style of Japonism creations made by Christopher Dresser. Round plate adorned with an oriental fan representi...
Porcelain
Christopher Dresser Japonism Yellow Minton Plate, 1876
By Christopher Dresser, Minton
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow Aesthetic Minton Porcelain Plate in the style of Japonism creations made by Christopher Dresser. Round plate adorned with an oriental fan representing a lovely and colorful bi...
Porcelain
Precious Minton peaches gold & silver hand painted Aesthetic Movement Plate 1880
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent porcelain plate signed by Minton, dated 1880, embodies the artistic refinement of the Aesthetic Movement. Finely hand-decorated, it features raised motifs of beautif...
Porcelain
Minton Secessionist No.5 Plate
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Mintons Secessionist No.5 plate. Turqoiuse, blue and orange ground, with green and brown tube lining. Stylised flower, in a typical Art Nouveau des...
Pottery
Large Minton Secessionist No.3 Wall Charger
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Mintons Secessionist No.3 wall charger. Green and blue ground with black tube lining. Stylized flowers in a typical Art Nouveau design. 'MINTON' & '15' i...
Pottery
Set of 12 Minton Gold Rimmed Porcelain Ball Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
One of Minton's most popular patterns is named "Porcelain Ball” which features a large diameter plate bordered by a gold and white floral decoratio...
Porcelain
Superb Hand Painted Minton Porcelain Tray
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Large Minton porcelain tray with hand painted wisterias. Raised paste gold and platinum add depth and elegance to this rare example in amethyst and lavender palette. The handles are ...
Platinum
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
$2,800 / set
H 1 in Dm 8.75 in
Set of 14 Copeland Late Spode Aesthetic Movement Green Parrot Dessert Plates
By Copeland Spode
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This wonderful set of 14 Copeland Late Spode dessert plates will surely add color and whimsy to your place settings. This pattern was originally in...
Porcelain
$520 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.45 in
Meissen, Germany. 4 porcelain dinner plates. “Blue Onion” pattern. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen Blue Onion 4 dinner plates, early 20th century. Four classic Meissen plates from the iconic Zwiebelmuster (Blue Onion) pattern with scalloped rim and hand-painted blue underglaze decoration. An early 20th-century set of fine quality. Origin: Germany, Meissen. Material: Porcelain. Dimensions: D. 24 cm. Period: Early 20th century. Condition: Very good condition with light signs of use. Meissen’s Zwiebelmuster...
Porcelain
Fine Italian Porcelain Dinner Service, Verbano Laveno, 20th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
FINE ITALIAN PORCELAIN DINNER SERVICE, VERBANO LAVENO, 20TH CENTURY The Verbano Laveno dinner service, originating from the 20th century, boasts exquis...
Porcelain
$68,500 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 10.75 in
Minton Mazarine Extensive Pristine Dinner Service Cobalt Blue & Gold 232 Pcs
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
It's always time to entertain! This is one of the most elegant and versatile patterns imaginable in a Classic and rare Minton cobalt blue pattern wi...
Porcelain
Minton Majolica Chestnut Server with Spoon
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica chestnut server which features chestnuts and chestnut leaves. Unusually, the piece still has it's original brass warmer and spoon. Colouration: green, brown, turquois...
Majolica
$5,500 / set
H 2 in W 7.25 in D 10 in
English Minton Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service / Twelve People
By Minton
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Minton hand painted and decorated porcelain dinner service for twelve people. Made in England between 1948 -1970 "with impressed marks "Minton / china / 2-65" and pattern numbers in gold. Discontinued pattern. Green rim with hand painted floral interior setting in a white background with hand painted gilt gold design. Each piece is in excellent condition. The set include 12 dinner plates 12 bread and butter plates 12 compote dishes 12 coffee cups 12 coffee saucers...
Gold
Large English Porcelain Dinner Service, Minton, circa 1845
Located in New York, NY
With a soft turquoise ground, painted with a fine spray of flowers, with gilt scroll and dash borders. Comprising pair of covered tureens and stands, pair of vegetable tureens, well and tree platter...
Porcelain
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
17 Piece Minton Porcelain Dessert Service with Tazze
By Minton
Located in London, GB
A 17 piece Minton porcelain dessert service with tazze English, 19th century Measures: Plate: height 2cm, diameter 24cm Tazze: height 12.5...
Porcelain
Majolica Oyster Plates by Minton, 1876
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
These Minton majolica oyster plates were produced in different colors. Delicate turquoise color with iridescent green tones on the middle of the plate. Decorated with refined shells,...
Majolica
Set of 2 Majolica Oyster Plates by Minton 1876
By Minton
Located in Paris, FR
Set of 6 majolica oyster plates by the English manufactory Minton. Lovely turquoise color with iridescent green tones on the middle of the plate. Decorated with refined shells, perfe...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Plate with Design by W. S. Coleman
By William Stephen Coleman, Minton
Located in London, GB
This beautiful large plate, its diameter is over 50 cm, was created by the English firm Minton and is crafted from tin-glazed ceramic, also known as Majolica. The surface of the plat...
Majolica
Rare Antique English Minton Oyster Plate with Latin Crest and Large Cracker Well
By Minton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare antique English Minton oyster plate with large cracker well and Latin crest saying "And I Seek More" glazed in cobalt blue with gold accents.
Porcelain
English Minton Majolica Oyster Plate with Mottled Blue Glaze, circa 1880-1890
By Minton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare English Minton Majolica oyster plate with mottled blue, green, and brown glaze, circa 1880-1890. Details of shells and seaweed accent the plate.
Majolica
Antique English Minton Porcelain Oyster Plate Made for Davis Collamore & Co.
By Minton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Minton red and gold porcelain oyster plate made for Davis Collamore & Co., New York. Beautiful red background with hand painted gol...
Porcelain
Minton Antique Majolica Pottery Pineapple Jug, 1873
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine antique Minton majolica pottery jug modeled as a pineapple. The body forms a pineapple decorated in shades of green and yellow with the ...
Pottery
Gilt Minton Bouillon Cups and Saucers, Set of Eight
By Minton
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a beautifully heavily gilt decorated set of eight Minton Bouillon or cream soup cups and saucers that dates to the first half of the 20th century. The quality of Minton porce...
Porcelain