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 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
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
Set of 12 Art Deco Plates w/ Cobalt & 24KT Gold Detailing by Minton for Tiffany
By Minton
Located in New York, NY
This elegant set of 12 Art Deco plates were realized by Minton for the esteemed American luxury maker Tiffany in England circa 1930. They feature circular bodies with subtly raised c...
Gold
Minton Majolica Mallard Game Pie Dish, Liner and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish with liner which features a hare, mallard and blackbird on a bed of fern and oak leaves. Coloration: brown, green, turquoise, are predominant. The piece...
Majolica
19th Century Green Majolica Cake Stand Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century oval Majolica cake stand signed Minton.
Ceramic
Minton Majolica Mallard Game Pie Dish and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish which features a hare, mallard and blackbird on a bed of fern and oak leaves. Coloration: brown, green, turquoise,...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Asparagus Server
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica asparagus drainer which features asparagus tips bound together, sat on a rectangular tray. Flowers and geometric patterns to the bor...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Mallard Game Pie Dish and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish which features a hare, mallard and blackbird on a bed of fern and oak leaves. Colouration: brown, green, turquoise...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Triton and Shell Serving Dish
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica serving dish which features a triton balancing a shell on his fish tail. Coloration: turquoise, green, cream, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the M...
Majolica
Mid-19th Century Minton Victorian Majolica Game Pie Dish
By Minton
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A majolica game pie dish made by Minton & Co. in 1864. The dish takes the form of a wicker basket and is covered with oak leaves, acorns, vines,...
Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
English Victorian Majolica Game Pie Dish Made by Minton & Co.
By Minton
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A majolica game pie dish made by Minton & Co. in 1874. The dish takes the form of a wicker basket and is covered with oak leaves, acorns, vines,...
Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
Festive Victorian Minton Majolica Game Pie Dish with Gun Dog
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish with liner which features a hunting dog asleep next to a gun, a powder flask and a game bag. Colouration: cream, green, brown, are predominant. The piec...
Majolica
Set of 4 Minton & Boyle English Porcelain Plates, c.1836–1841, Rococo
By Minton
Located in CANNES, FR
A rare and beautifully preserved set of 4 English porcelain dessert plates, attributed to Minton & Boyle, Staffordshire, circa 1836–1841. These early 19th-century pieces represent th...
Porcelain
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
Exquisite Set of 12 Cobalt & Gilt Dinner Plates
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Richly elegant set of 12 porcelain and gilded dinner plates having dramatic cobalt border with ornate gold decoration. From Paris.
Porcelain
$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
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
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
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
$7,200 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.38 in
12 Coalport for Tiffany 1899 Gold, Ivory and Cobalt Blue Dinner Plates
By Coalport for Tiffany
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A set of 12 rare Coalport, made for Tiffany and Co. dinner plates featuring six alternating reserves of two colors of cobalt blue enamel with profuse raised paste gold overlay. The p...
Porcelain
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
12 Antique Minton England Cobalt Blue & Gold Salad or Dessert Plates
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A classic and elegant set of 12 plates by Mintons, England featuring a nice wide collar of cobalt blue surrounded by two 24 karat gold acid etched bands. In wonderful antique conditi...
Gold, Enamel
$1,575 / item
W 10.5 in D 10.5 in
Wonderful Service 12 Minton Ovington's Raised Gold Hand Painted Dinner Plates
By Minton, Ovington Brother At New York
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Service Of 12 Minton Raised Gold Hand Painted Dinner Plates Retailed By Ovington's New York, Seem To Have Never Been Used Some Retaining Original Sticker.
Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12 People
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful German Meissen dinnerware service for twelve people with serving pieces. The dinnerware service is in great condition. Just exquisite & ve...
Gold
$6,400 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.5 in
12 Minton Cobalt Blue Gilt Encrusted Dinner Plates, Custom Antique, circa 1900
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive set of 12 dinner or presentation plates by one of the Gilded Age's re known factories: Minton England. This set was custom ordered through the storied New York retailer...
Gold, Enamel
$1,495 / set
H 0.88 in W 9 in D 9 in
Minton for Tiffany & Co. Porcelain Dessert Plates with Gold Gilt Rims, Twelve
By Minton, Tiffany & Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of twelve Art Deco dessert plates with gold gilt border By Minton for Tiffany & Co. England, Circa 1930s Measures: 9"W x 9"D...
Porcelain
Minton Oyster Plate Cream With Pink Flowers, Circa 1900
By Minton
Located in Ross, CA
Cream colored oyster plate with a multi colored luster glaze, pink flowers and green tips was made in England by Minton around 1900. The plate has six oyster wells, a center lemon or...
Ceramic
19th Century Green Majolica Cake Stand Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century round Majolica cake stand signed Minton.
Ceramic
19th Century Green Majolica Cake Stand Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century oval Majolica cake stand signed Minton.
Ceramic
Minton Majolica Game Pie Dish with Gun Dog
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish with liner which features a hunting dog asleep next to a gun, a powder flask and a game bag. Colouration: cream, g...
Majolica
Set of 6 Minton Majolica Lily Egg Cups
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Set of three Minton Majolica egg cup holders which feature a lily pad base with lily flower egg receptacles. Colouration: green and white are predomi...
Majolica
Minton Majolica Turquoise Six Well Oyster Plate, English, Dated 1874
By Minton
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Minton Majolica six-well oyster plate, the wells glazed in turquoise blue, each well separated by shells and seaweed, the central well glazed in green, bordered with shells. Impresse...
Ceramic
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
Minton Majolica Mallard & Hare Game Pie Dish
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish with liner which features a hare, mallard and blackbird on a bed of fern and oak leaves. Colouration: brown, green, white, ...
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
Majolica Aqua Sugar Bowl Minton, Circa 1875
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
English Victorian Majolica aqua sugar bowl with snail finial and flower pattern Minton, Circa 1875.
Ceramic
Minton Majolica Mussel Dish and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica serving dish which features the dish in the form of a mussel shell. The lid has a coral-effect handle, wrapped in seaweed. The foot of the base in the form of seaweed...
Earthenware
Sold
H 0.75 in W 10.5 in D 9.25 in
Minton Porcelain Cake Plate, Maroon with Flowers, Rococo Revival, ca 1830
By Minton
Located in London, GB
This is a rather stunning cake plate made by Minton in about 1830, which was the Rococo Revival era. This plate is decorated in a maroon ground with hand painted flower reserves and ...
Porcelain