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.
$300Sale Price|33% Off
1874 Minton Chinese Blue and White Transferware Platter
By Minton
Located in Sheffield, MA
An antique 19th century Minton Chinese blue and white transferware platter. It has a lovely pastoral scene. The underside is marke...
Pottery
Antique English Majolica Plate with Crab by Minton
By Minton
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Fanciful 19th century English pottery wall hanging decorative plate handcrafted in an eccentric composition with crab, oysters and assorted sea life colorfully decorated under glaze....
Pottery
Minton Majolica Pottery Girl Harvester Figurine 1864
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning Minton majolica pottery figure depicting a girl harvester figurine dating from 1864. The figure sits raised on a round pedestal base and holds a large oval shaped basket u...
Majolica, Pottery
Arts & Crafts Mintons Secessionist Vase
By Minton
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts tubeline Secessionist Vase In blues and yellows Stamped Mintons 3547 Circa 1900 Height 13.5cm. Diameter 8cm
Pottery
19th Century Minton’s Art Pottery Studio Kensington Gore Hand-Painted Charger
By Minton
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This large hand-painted charger was made by Mintons Art Pottery Studio of Kensington Gore, London. The studio traces its origins to the renowned earthenware and fine bone china factory Minton, located in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire England. Colin Minton Campbell, descendant of founder Thomas Minton, took over company management in 1858 and went on to establish Mintons Art Pottery Studio in 1871 for the purpose of hand decorating pottery and tiles. The studio initially operated under the direction of painter and book illustrator William Stephen Coleman and drew upon the talents of artists studying at the Kensington's National Art Training School, now known as the Royal College of Art, as well as those of well-regarded Continental artists. The company was short lived as it was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1875 and was not rebuilt. This large earthenware charger has been hand-painted in polychrome enamel and depicts two young children at play in the nursery. The scene includes multiple colors and textures and features a cherubic toddler seated upon a bed alongside a young girl standing on a blue footstool...
Pottery
$7,998 / set
Pair of Minton Majolica Spring Daffodil Vases
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Minton Majolica vases which feature daffodils stood on bulb feet. Cobalt blue ground version. Colouration: cobalt blue, green, white, are predominant. The piece bears maker's...
Majolica
Minton Aesthetic Movement Plum Red Glazed Art Pottery Monkey Candlestick
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish and unusual Minton Aesthetic Movement plum glazed art pottery monkey candlestick dating from around 1885. The candlestick stands on a rou...
Earthenware
Minton Majolica Pottery Boy Holding a Basket Probably for Salt
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning antique Minton Majolica pottery figure of a boy holding a basket, probably for salt, and dating from around 1879. The figure stands raised on a rounded rockwork base with a tree stump with the boy leaning on the stump and dressed in period costume with a jacket and knee length shorts and wearing a rounded hat with ribbon. He holds a basket in front of him and is hand painted in naturalistic Majolica colors in typical yellows, greens, blues, browns and natural skin tones. The base has stamped Minton marks to the rim along with date marks with the inner base decorated in typical Minton turquoise...
Pottery
Minton Majolica Cherub Flower Holder
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica flower holder which features a cherub carrying wheatsheaf. Coloration: ochre, green, cream, are predominant. The piece bears mak...
Majolica
$185 / item
H 0.75 in Dm 10 in
Ed Langbein Mid-Century Modern Hand Painted Italian Hilltop Village Plate
By Ed Langbein
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mid-Century Modern pottery plates, designed and hand-painted by the American industrial designer Ed E. Langbein, and manufactured in Italy, circa 1930-1950. Offered individually, ea...
Pottery
$556Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 6 in W 3 in D 2 in
Pair of Diminutive Red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860
By Staffordshire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of diminutive red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860, Each one exceptionally painted with expressive faces.
Pottery
Karl Rudolf Ditmar Pair of Art Nouveau Iridescent Art Pottery Vases
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning pair Austrian heliosine iridescent glazed art pottery vases by Karl Rudolf Ditmar (1818-1895). The pair of squat double gourd shaped vases are...
Pottery
Majolica Lobster Charger, Caldas Portugal, 12.5\" Diameter, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Three dimensional Majolica dish centered with a large lobster and surrounded by oysters. Signed Caldas, Portugal on reverse side.
Majolica
$1,250
H 16.75 in W 20.63 in D 1.75 in
Large Antique Stubbs 'Fruit & Flowers' Blue Transferware Platter or Serving Tray
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very large, antique blue transfer Staffordshire serving tray. By Stubbs & Kent. In the 'Fruits & Flowers' pattern. Measuring approx. 20 5/8 in. by 16 3/4 in. Simply a wonderful...
Porcelain, Pottery
19th Century Portrait Bust of William Shakespeare
By Staffordshire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century portrait bust of William Shakespeare, Vividly painted, a striking portrait of the English playwright, poet, and actor. Raised on a pedestal base with a neoclassical urn....
Pottery
$1,100
H 1.75 in W 15.25 in D 19 in
William Ridgway English Staffordshire Transferware Platter, Flosculous Pattern
By William Ridgway
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A black on white transfer printed floral platter in the Flosculous pattern, William Ridgway & Co., Shelton, Hanley, Staffordshire England, circa 1830-1854. A gently scalloped black-printed platter in an unusual borderless pattern. Alternating floral sprays extend outward — from a three part scroll motif in the center — up the well and onto the rim of the plate. The term ‘flosculous’ means having flowerets or composite-flowered. This stylized pattern feels very modern. 19 in. L x 15.25 in. W x 1.75 in H A printed urn...
Earthenware
19th Century Italian Majolica Charger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century Italian Majolica charger with hand painted scenery in great detail. Dimensions: 2"H x 16"D
Porcelain
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
$420Sale Price|30% Off
H 0.75 in W 6.25 in D 7.75 in
Antique Chinese Export Canton Blue Willow Gilt Plate Platter Tray 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Small late 19th century Chinese Export porcelain platter / plate - rectangular in shape with rounded corners and gilt detail at the edge, decorated with a Blue Willow style lands and...
Porcelain
$373Sale Price|35% Off
H 2 in W 16.5 in D 12 in
North Staffordshire Oval Platter Transferware in the Blue Willow Pattern
By Staffordshire
Located in Lomita, CA
This blue and white porcelain oval transferware platter is from North Staffordshire in the "Willow" pattern. It is in wonderful condition and measures 1...
Ceramic
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
Arts & Crafts Mintons Secessionist Vase
By Minton
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts tubeline Secessionist Vase With an rare pink background and stylised Glasgow rose decoration Stamped Mintons Ltd No 19 Circa 1900 ...
Pottery
Arts & Crafts Mintons Secessionist Vase
By Minton
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts tubeline Secessionist Vase In reds and yellows Stamped Mintons Ltd No 42 Circa 1900 Height 13.5cm. Diameter 8cm
Pottery
Minton Majolica Oyster Plate 'Malachite, ' English, Dated 1873
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton majolica six-well oyster plate glazed in simulated malachite, the reverse with impressed and molded marks: 'MINTON,' and Minton Date Cypher for 1873, molded British Registry L...
Malachite
Minton England Green WATERLILY Ceramic Planter , Art Nouveau
By Minton
Located in Valladolid, ES
19th -20th Century One of a kind an very gorgeous English Majolica Floral Jardiniere signed Minton with an exuberant waterlily decoration green and white. With a great plate, measure...
Ceramic
Minton Majolica Pottery Ale Jug Decorated with Hops
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine early and unusual Minton majolica art pottery ale jug decorated with relief fruiting designs dating from 1866. The finely made pottery jug is of round bulbous shape with a pin...
Majolica, Pottery
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
Minton Majolica Glazed Pottery Parrot on Perch Figure
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and large art pottery model of a parrot sat on tree stump perch decorated in majolica glazes by Minton and dating from around 1895. The parrot is well potted with good detail ...
Pottery
Minton Turquoise Majolica Glazed Art Pottery Bottle Shaped Vase
By Minton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish and elegant English art pottery bottle shaped vase decorated in turquoise majolica glazes made by Minton and dated 1852. The vase stands o...
Pottery
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
Pair of English Majolica Parrot Figures by Mintons
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of English Majolica parrot figures by Mintons, each one with colorful feathers, resting on a perch.
Majolica
Minton Majolica Covered Butter Dish and Stand with Cow-Form Handles, Dated 1867
By Minton
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Minton Majolica butter dish, Lid, and Underplate, molded as wooden staves with blackberries and vines with cow's heads wearing green glazed garlands as...
Majolica