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.
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 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
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
19th Century Green Majolica Cake Stand Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
19th century oval Majolica cake stand signed Minton.
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
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
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
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
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
Set of Three English Pewter Plates or Platters, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Set of three English Pewter plates or platters, 19th century. Different sizes. Small 9.75" diameter Medium 10.5" diameter Large 11.25" diameter
Pewter
$975 / set
H 1 in W 23 in D 10.25 in
19th Century Hand Painted Franz Mehlem Signed Porcelain Fish Platter & 10 Plates
By Franz Anton Mehlem
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Signed and hand crafted stunning Fish Platter with 10 matching plates, all hand painted in beautiful colors Handmade by Franz Anton Mehlem, a German pottery manufacturer. Mehlem produced in Bonn...
Pottery
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
Antique English Hand-Painted Ridgway Ironstone Imari Decor Platter
By J & W Ridgway
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fine antique English hand-painted ironstone Imari decor platter with extraordinarily colorful "Imari" pattern. "Fraction-style" painted pattern number attributes maker of platter ...
Ironstone
19th Century Antique Dutch White Ironstone Pedestal Cake Stand
Located in Birmingham, AL
A beautiful antique Dutch white ironstone cake stand on a pedestal, circa 1890. Maker's mark "Petrus Regout Maastricht" on reverse. Made in Hollan...
Ironstone
English Victorian Majolica Chestnut Server Minton
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
English Victorian Majolica chestnut server signed Minton.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Bread Tray
Located in High Point, NC
19th century Majolica bread tray from England in the wheat pattern. The tray has a central medallion of solid brown, surrounded by a yellow basket weave...
Pottery
19th Century Wedgwood Leaf Dish
By Wedgwood
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century wedgwood majolica leaf dish from England.
Pottery
19th Century Hand Painted Majolica Platter from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
From Italy, this hand painted Majolica platter has two areas of ornamentation. The outer circle has busts of two different men, one on the top of the platter and one at the bottom. T...
Majolica
Davenport Handled Majolica Dish, Dated 1852
By Davenport Porcelain
Located in High Point, NC
Davenport double handled Majolica dish with Davenport impressed mark and the year for 1852 stamped on the back. Gorgeous pattern with leaves and vines.
Ceramic
19th Century English Majolica Handled Dish
Located in Bridgeport, CT
19th Century English majolica handled dish in the form of a lily pad with a trailing vine handle terminating with rose and yellow colored flowers. Dimensions: 9" x 9" x 1 3/4" H Co...
Ceramic
$2,475 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 9 in
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 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